President Donald Trump announced on Thanksgiving night, November 27, that one of the two National Guard soldiers shot in an ambush just blocks from the White House yesterday, 20-year-old Sergeant Sarah Beckstrom, had died from her injuries.

The president made the announcement before addressing military members via video teleconference from his Thanksgiving holiday in West Palm Beach, Florida.

"It is with great sorrow that I have to announce that Sergeant Sarah Beckstrom, from West Virginia, has died from her injuries," Trump said. "She was a very respected young woman, a wonderful person, who joined in June of 2023, and was one of the finest guardsmen in every respect."

“She is no longer with us. She is looking down on us now. Her parents are with her.”

"This just happened. She was brutally attacked. She is dead. She is no longer with us."

"A wonderful person. She was outstanding in every way, shape, and form. It's a terrible thing."

Of the other West Virginia National Guard member shot, Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, Trump said, "He is in very critical condition."

"He is fighting for his life, and we hope to hear better news about him," he said.

Trump referred to the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakamal, 29, an Afghan national, as a "savage monster" and criticized the fatal vetting failures that allowed him into the country during the botched and humiliating withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan under former President Joe Biden in 2021.

Lakamal entered the U.S. in September 2021 as part of "Operation Allies Welcome," a program implemented by the Biden administration to resettle thousands of Afghans who aided the U.S. military during the war in Afghanistan but feared reprisal after the Taliban's takeover.

Gary Beckstrom, Sarah Beckstrom's father, told The New York Times in a phone call Thursday morning that his daughter's injuries were unsurvivable.

"I'm holding her hand right now. She's fatally wounded. There's no hope of recovery," he said, declining further comment.

Both soldiers underwent emergency surgery after the attack and were listed in critical condition.

Multiple outlets, including Newsmax, reported that Beckstrom had volunteered for the shift so her fellow guardsmen could spend Thanksgiving with their families.

Trump seized on the incident to assert a direct link between the shooting and the Biden administration's "disastrous and hasty withdrawal" from Afghanistan, which saw tens of thousands of Afghans enter the U.S. under expedited procedures.

He held up images of the chaotic evacuation in Kabul — Afghans clinging to departing U.S. aircraft — and told soldiers, "Look at this picture. Look at that airplane. This is what we have under the Biden administration."

Investigators have said Lakamal drove about 2,700 miles from outside Seattle to Washington D.C., where he waited for the soldiers and then attacked them with a handgun.

Federal records indicate he served with U.S. forces in Kandahar before being evacuated to the U.S. during the withdrawal.

President Trump called the attack "a crime against our whole country."

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, announced Thursday morning that Lakamal had been charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and three counts of carrying a firearm during a violent crime.

"I hope they survive, and I pray that the highest charge does not become first-degree murder," Pirro said. "But let me be clear, if they do not survive, the charge will certainly become first-degree murder."

After Trump's announcement of Beckstrom's death, Attorney General Pam Bondi took to X, writing, "Devastating. Please pray for Sarah’s family. America will never forget her bravery. Justice will be served for Sarah. Continue to pray for Andrew. Thank you President Trump - the death penalty is back."

West Virginia Republican Senator Jim Justice also issued a statement, saying he was shocked by the news of Beckstrom's death.

"I am absolutely shocked and devastated to learn that Sarah Beckstrom has passed away today after succumbing to injuries she sustained in the terrorist attack that occurred yesterday in Washington D.C."

"Cathy and I are beyond heartbroken. We are praying for her family, friends, and fellow guardsmen as they navigate this unimaginable Thanksgiving."

"We are also praying for Andrew Wolfe as he fights for his recovery. West Virginians always show up for each other. Today is a time for us to show up for our service members as we mourn this tragic loss." he added.

West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito said on X, "My heart is shattered by the news that our fellow West Virginian, Sarah Beckstrom, has tragically passed away following the horrific attack in Washington D.C. yesterday. This is a tremendous loss for her family, her fellow guardsmen, and our entire state."

"I remain in close contact with the West Virginia National Guard and law enforcement as they work to support our second guardsman, Andrew Wolfe, who is receiving medical care." she wrote.

"Charlies and I are praying for his recovery and for all of those impacted by this senseless violence. West Virginia will never forget Sarah’s dedication, sacrifice, and commitment to our state and country. We stand with her family and the West Virginia National Guard community during this incredibly difficult time." she added.

By Nam Sung-gu, Chief Reporter, NNP / Special Correspondent NNP info@newsandpost.com