Former US president Donald Trump has renewed criticism of the Afghan evacuation process, claiming that many Afghans brought into the United States lacked proper screening and that some “shouldn’t be here.” His remarks came after two US National Guard members were critically injured in a shooting near the White House, allegedly carried out by an Afghan national.
Asked whether he blamed all Afghans for the attack, Trump held up a photograph of evacuees packed inside a US military aircraft during the 2021 Kabul airlift. He said he did not hold the entire Afghan community responsible, but argued that he had “a lot of problems” with the way people were admitted during the withdrawal. He reiterated earlier claims that the evacuation involved “no vetting or anything,” insisting that “a lot of bad people were brought into the United States.”
Trump maintained that the latest attack highlighted long standing concerns about the vetting process during the 2021 evacuation and questioned the oversight exercised at the time.
The shooting near Farragut Square in Washington, DC, which left two National Guard soldiers critically injured, has intensified scrutiny of Afghan nationals who entered the United States under Operation Allies Welcome following the 2021 withdrawal. The suspect, a 29 year old Afghan national who arrived in Sep 2021, is now in custody.
The attack has renewed warnings about Afghanistan’s role as a terror sponsoring and exporting hub, with the Taliban regime enabling and facilitating militant networks. Analysts caution that the unchecked movement of extremists from Afghan soil presents cross border risks, threatening Pakistan, the United States, and other Western countries.
In response, US authorities have reportedly begun reviewing the legal status of Afghans admitted during the evacuation period, reflecting increased vigilance amid evolving transnational threats. Security experts say such incidents highlight the permissive environment under the Taliban, which continues to provide space for groups with international terrorist ambitions.
The DC attack, occurring just two blocks from the White House, underscores the symbolic and operational reach that extremist actors can achieve when empowered by unstable conditions in Afghanistan, with officials warning that Taliban complicity carries direct consequences for global security.
