Noem says National Guard shooting suspect was 'radicalized' in the U.S.
Source: NBC News
Nov. 30, 2025, 9:02 AM EST / Updated Nov. 30, 2025, 10:44 AM EST
WASHINGTON Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on NBC News Meet the Press Sunday that authorities believe the suspect in the National Guard shooting was radicalized in the U.S. and that the asylum process for migrants would resume once the administration has dealt with a backlog of applications under new standards following the attack.
Her comments come after Trump said he would permanently pause migration from third world countries after the suspect in the National Guard shooting was identified as an Afghan national. NBC News previously reported that the suspect was granted asylum this year.
Noem said during Sundays interview that the administration believes that the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was radicalized since hes been here in this country. We do believe it was through connections in his home community and state, and were going to continue to talk to those who interacted with him, Noem said.
In a separate interview on ABC News' "This Week," Noem said that the suspect "could have been radicalized" in the U.S. NBC News has reported that Lakanwal, who served alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan, came to the U.S. in 2021, during the Biden administration, but was granted asylum during the Trump administration.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/kristi-noem-radicalized-dc-national-guard-asylum-shooting-rcna246477
rzemanfl
(31,055 posts)COL Mustard
(7,875 posts)He would likely have been traumatized by the Administration's overt hatred for immigrants, which began this past January.
Blues Heron
(8,111 posts)Back in Afghanistan
J_William_Ryan
(3,218 posts)National Guard shooting if the Guard werent needlessly in DC, victims of Trumps partisan political theater.
travelingthrulife
(4,026 posts)My guess is he had friends or family murdered after they were deported back to Afghanistan by Trump.
The fact he was a CIA asset though opens up all sorts of possibilities.
patphil
(8,564 posts)RockRaven
(18,522 posts)mwb970
(12,030 posts)Autumn
(48,697 posts)Last edited Sun Nov 30, 2025, 01:22 PM - Edit history (1)
karynnj
(60,719 posts)I think it was her department that granted asylum in April this year. I would bet that she is arguing that he was "radicalized" in the period after that.
This does lead to it NOT being something Biden is responsible for which was the Trump administration's first response. As they NEVER blame themselves, I would think they will try to blame Washington State and especially nearby Seattle.
However, a more logical reason for radicalization since May is ALL the stuff Noem and Trump have done.
taxi
(2,656 posts)he drove across the country, possibly with his AM radio on. One could argue that he was radicalized.
louis-t
(24,549 posts)'an-TEE-fuhhhhhh'
muriel_volestrangler
(105,325 posts)It's a question of finding the people in the US who encourage violence.
Turbineguy
(39,700 posts)Grins
(9,171 posts)"...authorities believe (shooter) was radicalized in the U.S. ...the administration believes that the suspect...was radicalized since hes been here in this country. We do believe it was through connections in his home community."
Authorities believe, the administration believes, we believe, we do believe, coulda', and woulda' - and nothing to back it up.
They got bupkis! They got nothing. They're making it up! AGAIN!
progree
(12,621 posts)OldBaldy1701E
(9,710 posts)Is that what the regime is calling those who have mental issues and cannot get treatment after being used by our government?
The only thing that was radical about the US is the fact that we supposedly have the best healthcare in the world and yet only a certain small percentage of the population can even consider accessing it.
The only thing 'radical' about this was that the US pretty much used the guy in his home country to the point where he could not live there anymore and then acted like he was a mule that was now too old to work, but too public to just 'take him behind the barn' and neglected him.
Par for the course.
mdbl
(7,934 posts)Blame everyone but yourself dog killer.
rickyhall
(5,503 posts)Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(131,584 posts)As investigators continue to delve into what may have motivated the suspect in the deadly National Guardsmen shooting last week, a portrait of a life of increasing financial stress and a potential mental health crisis has emerged, sources familiar told ABC News.
Additionally, multiple sources said that investigators are looking into the impact of the recent death of an Afghan commander, who allegedly worked with the suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal.
The death of the commander -- whom Lakanwal is said to have revered -- had deeply saddened the suspect, sources said.
This may have compounded on Lakanwals financial burdens, including not being employed, having an expired work permit and allegedly struggling to pay rent and feed his children, sources said.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/national-guardsmen-shooting-suspect-afghan-102200062.html
maxsolomon
(37,972 posts)Who's radicalizing Afghans in the bucolic hippie capitol of the PNW?
Absurd.