At Thanksgiving Press Conference, Trump Clashes With Reporters and Faces Questions Over Afghan Shooter’s Asylum Case

Washington — Former President Donald J. Trump delivered a volatile and at times combative Thanksgiving Day press conference on Thursday, abruptly ending the event after receiving questions about his administration’s role in granting asylum to an Afghan national accused in the fatal shooting of a National Guard service member in Washington, D.C.

The suspect in the shooting, identified by officials as a 29-year-old Afghan who worked closely with U.S. intelligence agencies for nearly a decade, is accused of killing 20-year-old National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckm earlier this week. Federal officials said the suspect had passed multiple rounds of vetting in 2021 before entering the United States — a point that became central to the tense exchanges between Mr. Trump and the press.

A Confrontational Start

Mr. Trump appeared visibly irritated during the press conference, held at a Coast Guard facility, as reporters questioned his claims that the suspect should never have been allowed into the country. When asked directly whether his administration had granted asylum to the man earlier this year, Mr. Trump struck the table with his hand and ended the briefing abruptly, saying only, “We’re going to be getting them all out now.”

The former president’s frustration had been building throughout the event. Minutes earlier, he had called a reporter “stupid” for citing a Justice Department inspector general report concluding that Afghan evacuees who entered the United States in 2021 underwent vetting by both the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.

“Are you stupid?” Mr. Trump repeatedly said, interrupting the reporter. “They came in on a plane along with thousands of other people that shouldn’t be here.”

Conflicting Claims and Political Tensions

The exchange capped a week of political confusion surrounding the suspect’s immigration timeline. Several Trump allies stated publicly that the man entered the United States under President Biden, while others in Mr. Trump’s circle declined to clarify whether the shooter’s asylum claim was approved earlier this year, during Mr. Trump’s current term.

Pressed again about whether his administration had authorized the asylum request, Mr. Trump responded vaguely, saying only that it is “very hard to get them out once they’re flown in,” and offered no further explanation.

The lack of clarity prompted further scrutiny after South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who oversees the Department of Homeland Security under the current administration, released statements that did not directly address the asylum timeline.

Racially Charged Remarks Draw Criticism

The press conference escalated further when Mr. Trump shifted from discussing the Afghan suspect to criticizing Somali immigrants, particularly those living in Minnesota — a state he lost by a wide margin in previous elections.

“What do Somalians have to do with this Afghan guy?” one reporter asked.

“Nothing,” Mr. Trump replied, before delivering a lengthy critique of Somali American communities. “Many of these people are criminals… They’re ripping off our country.”

The remarks, which included references to Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, drew immediate backlash from civil rights organizations, who described the comments as inappropriate and racially inflammatory, especially in the context of a press conference intended to address a fatal shooting and the deployment of National Guard personnel.

Praise, Tangents, and Personal Anecdotes

Throughout the briefing, Mr. Trump alternated between addressing national security concerns and veering into unrelated topics. At one point, he spent several minutes discussing his golf achievements, describing himself as “a very low handicap” player who has won “38 club championships.”

Later, while speaking to Coast Guard personnel, he claimed he had personally redesigned the hulls of new Coast Guard cutters because he is “an aesthetic person,” though military procurement officials have not confirmed any direct involvement.

Reaction to the Guardswoman’s Death

When asked whether he planned to attend Specialist Beckm’s funeral, Mr. Trump said he had not thought about it but “could conceive of it,” adding that he “loves West Virginia,” the state where she grew up.

Her death has intensified debate over the deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., where they have been stationed for months. Critics argue the mission has lacked clear purpose, while supporters say the presence has contributed to a reduction in overall crime in the city.

Political Fallout Amid Weak Polling Numbers

The press conference comes during a period of declining approval ratings for Mr. Trump, whose second-term polling averages show him deeply underwater with independent voters. Recent surveys indicate a sharp drop in confidence in his handling of inflation and economic issues, which analysts believe has contributed to growing unease within his party.

Even as the former president avoided issuing a traditional Thanksgiving message, he continued to highlight favorable polling on social media, despite independent analyses showing widespread erosion in support.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin released its own holiday-day statement in which President Vladimir V. Putin reiterated that Russia would only consider peace negotiations with Ukraine if Kyiv surrendered all territory currently occupied by Russian forces — a stark reminder of global tensions overshadowing the holiday.