The Afghan man who was believed to have shot the National Guardsmen near the White House had his asylum approved by the Trump administration earlier this year, as per reports.
This suspect was identified by several law enforcement sources and media outlets as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal. As per reports from CNN, fingerprints matched the man of that name who fled to America during the Taliban takeover of his home country.
Lakanwal had applied for asylum in the year 2024, and it was granted by the Trump administration in April of 2025.
As per ABC News, three law enforcement sources also confirmed that his asylum had been given the green signal by President Trump this year. While not naming Lakanwal, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared on X that the suspect did arrive under Operation Allies Welcome in September of 2021.
Many in the country found it outrageous for Trump to rant about Biden being responsible for the shooting, when it was Trump who gave him further permission to stay in the country.
Both guardsmen remain in a critical state in the hospital, while the shooter was also wounded in the attack and is therefore being treated in the hospital under custody.