On November 26, 2025, two West Virginia National Guard members were ambushed just blocks from the White House in an attack that left 20-year-old Spc. Sarah Beckstrom dead and another guardsman fighting for his life. This was not a random act of violence; it was an ambush on our uniformed citizens who were deployed to protect American streets, and every patriot should be sickened that this happened on American soil. Our prayers go to the families, but prayers must be followed by policy that actually protects Americans.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who came to the United States under evacuation programs after the fall of Kabul. That fact should make every American ask bluntly whether the resettlement and vetting regimes put in place over the past few years were adequate. When someone who arrived through government channels can allegedly carry out an attack on American troops, it exposes a dangerous policy failure that must be corrected immediately.
President Trump moved quickly to respond, ordering a pause on Afghan immigration applications while agencies review how people are being screened and admitted. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the State Department followed by pausing processing in the wake of the shooting — sensible, sober steps to protect the country while investigators work. Anyone who calls for patience at the expense of public safety is asking Americans to gamble with our lives.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP congressional hopeful Matt Van Epps were blunt about the need for real policy fixes during their appearance on The Will Cain Show, backing the administration’s decision and urging Congress to act. Johnson made the case that these are serious times that demand serious policy changes, not partisan lectures from coastal elites who put ideology before security. Van Epps, a veteran himself, reminded viewers that supporting our troops means refusing to accept policies that invite risk to their lives.
The unfolding debate is also playing out on the campaign trail in Tennessee, where Matt Van Epps faces a high-stakes special election that could determine whether Republicans hold a fragile House majority. This is not abstract politics — control of Congress will decide whether we can pass commonsense reforms on immigration, vetting, and law-and-order measures. Tennessee voters should recognize that electing patriots who prioritize safety and common sense is the only way to prevent Washington from importing policies that put Americans at risk.
Congress must act without delay: end loopholes that allow dangerous people to slip through, tighten vetting procedures, and hold accountable the officials who greenlighted reckless resettlement programs. We need permanent reforms that protect our citizens first, not another round of blame-shifting and virtue signaling from the same politicians who refused to secure the border. If lawmakers fail to act, voters must replace them with leaders who will put national security above open-borders ideology.
These are the stakes: our troops, our neighborhoods, and our children’s future. Patriotism isn’t just waving a flag; it’s demanding the tough decisions that keep America safe. Stand with the families of the fallen, back leaders who will defend our country, and show up in Tennessee to elect commonsense conservatives who will deliver real security for hardworking Americans.
