HOT TOPICS | Donald Trump's Callous Response to D.C. Shooting - November 28th, 2025
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hi, everyone. Welcome to the Don Lemon Show. The Don Lemon Show is brought to you by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. And look, you know me, I care a lot, a whole lot about actual freedom, not the kind people toss around in slogans. I'm talking about the freedom the Constitution actually promises us. And with the Bill of Rights Day coming up on December 15th, it is a good time to remember that very First Amendment, the one that protects freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom from government imposed religion. That last one, right? A lot of folks like to skip over it, but we can't afford to skip over it now. Christian nationalism is creeping into places it does not belong. And the Freedom From Religion Foundation, well, they have been holding that line since 1978 in courts, in local government, everywhere these fights show up.
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What happened in the D.C. shooting that left a National Guard member dead?
And they're also doing a two for one membership for new members. So you can join, you can give a free membership to someone in your life who believes in real freedom too. It applies to new US memberships only. not renewals or lifetime tiers, but it's a real way to support the work. So just visit ffrf.us slash shop or text my name, Don, D-O-N, to 511-511. That's ffrf.us slash shop or text Don to 511-511 because our rights survive only when we're willing to stand up for them. Text fees may apply. Good morning, everyone. Thanks for watching us this morning. You know, we learned last night that one of the National Guard members shot near the White House died. Her name was Sarah Beckstrom. She was 20 years old.
really young she put on a uniform to serve her country another guard member is now still in critical condition this morning and before anything else i just want to state this extremely clearly so that there is no question about what i'm saying here the man who fired the gun is responsible for killing miss beckstrom he chose to ambush two americans in uniform that's his responsibility he is responsible for that that part is not complicated But what people are asking across the country is another question, a question that sits right next to that one. Why were these young soldiers out there in the first place? That's what everybody is saying to me. Why were they patrolling a civilian street? And would they still be alive had they not been ordered into that position?
A lot of people don't want to say that out loud. But that's what people are asking.
Why were young National Guard troops patrolling civilian streets near the White House?
I live in New York now, but I visit Washington, DC often. And every time I go, I see the national guards. At least when I go recently, I see the national guard members out there, young people, kids, really 19, 20, 21 years old. They are standing on corners that they were never meant to stand on. These are men and women, young men and women mainly who volunteered to serve their country, this country. In emergency situations like fires and floods and hurricanes and natural disasters, they signed up to help Americans when things go horribly wrong. That's not what they are doing now. They're being used as a domestic police force. And that's the problem. And that is the tragedy in all of this. They were not trained for this role.
They were not deployed for the right reasons. And it did not have to happen. According to the Associated Press, Reuters, The Washington Post, these two West Virginia National Guard members were on a foot patrol a couple of blocks from the White House. You've heard the news reports. A gunman approached them, opened fire without warning. There was no confrontation. There was no escalation, just violence. Now one of them is dead and another is fighting for his life in a hospital. And we hope that he makes it. The suspect is a 29-year-old Afghan nationalist. His name is Ramalu Lakanwal. He came to the United States under Operation Allies Welcome. He had served in one of the CIA-supported Afghan units.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:20–1:21
2
What happened in the D.C. shooting that left a National Guard member dead?
1:21–3:12
3
Why were young National Guard troops patrolling civilian streets near the White House?
3:12–5:38
4
How does using the Guard as a domestic police force create risks?
5:38–8:45
5
Who is the suspect and what do we know about his background and vetting?
8:45–20:06