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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed the Wednesday ambush attack in Washington, D.C. where two National Guardsmen were shot just blocks from the White House. As RedState reported, the guardsmen are in critical condition, and a suspect is in custody. Hegseth pledged that President Donald Trump and the Department of War will “not back down,” and that this type of action will “only stiffen our resolve.”
Hegseth announced to a gaggle of reporters that the administration is committed to deploy 500 more National Guard troops to the nation’s capital.
Read More: (Updated) Breaking: Two National Guard Members Shot Near White House, Now Reported in Critical Condition
President Trump Reacts to National Guard Troops Shot, Reveals Their Conditions
Hegseth was in the Dominican Republic, and had just wrapped meetings with his cabinet and Dominican President Luis Abinader and his defense minister. The press rushed Hegseth, immediately wanting to learn what transpired in this meeting. Hegseth redirected the questions with these remarks:
Myself and my team were notified that two national guardsmen had been shot in Washington, D.C., critically wounded. The shooter shot in a cowardly, dastardly act, targeting the best of America. Heroes willing to serve in Washington, D.C. Serve for people they don’t know and they’ve never met, because they love their country, their capital, and their community. They were willing to do dangerous things others were not because they love their fellow Americans. Someone decided to turn that into targeting National Guardsmen.
That will only stiffen our resolve. We will never back down. We will secure our capital, we will secure our cities. In fact, this happened just steps away from the White House. It will not stand. And that’s why President Trump has asked me, and I will ask the Secretary of the Army to the National Guard to add 500 additional troops, National Guardsmen, to Washington, D.C.
This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington, D.C., safe and beautiful. The drop in crime has been historic. The increase in safety and security has been historic. But if criminals want to conduct things like this, violence against America’s best, we will never back down. President Trump will never back down. That’s why the American people elected him. America and our warriors, our National Guardsmen are strong.
So, we’re following this very closely. We’re getting information rapidly. And I mentioned the faith of this country, the Christian faith, the prayers. I would ask for prayers for our National Guardsmen. Appeals to Heaven for our National Guardsmen. For their families, on bended knee, as a War Department, as a nation, we will never back down.
Hegseth then proceeded to respond to questions regarding the meeting that had concluded, emphasizing President Trump’s mandate of Peace through Strength. Hegseth issued a warning to narco-terrorists who wish to target America’s borders with drugs and crime: “We will find you, we will fix you, and we will finish you.” Hegseth concluded, “Cartels do not set the agenda, we do.”
WATCH:
This is a developing story. RedState will provide updates as more information becomes available.
