Tragedy struck near the White House when a young West Virginia National Guard specialist was brutally gunned down, yet New York City’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, seems more comfortable with vague platitudes than confronting the grim reality.
The heartbreaking incident unfolded on a Thursday evening, claiming the life of 20-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and leaving another soldier critically injured, with the suspect—an Afghan national admitted under a Biden administration program—at the center of a firestorm of criticism over Mamdani’s tepid response.
Beckstrom was allegedly shot in the chest with a revolver by 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal near the nation’s capital, a horrifying act that didn’t stop there.
Lakanwal reportedly took Beckstrom’s service weapon and executed her at point-blank range, an act of chilling violence that shocks the conscience.
In the same incident, he allegedly shot 24-year-old Guardsman Andrew Wolfe in the neck, who now fights for his life in critical condition after emergency surgery.
A third soldier heroically intervened, subduing Lakanwal, who is now hospitalized under heavy guard and could face the death penalty, according to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Lakanwal entered the United States through Operation Allies Welcome, a program tied to the Biden administration’s 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, raising sharp questions about vetting processes.
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board has warned against broad-brushing Afghan refugees, while still pointing to potential flaws in the chaotic withdrawal that may have skipped critical security checks.
Yet, amidst this tragedy, the United Nations posted on social media about asylum as a “human right,” conspicuously sidestepping any mention of the victims or the violent act in D.C.
Enter Zohran Mamdani, whose statement on X about Beckstrom’s death has ignited a backlash for its glaring omission of the violent circumstances. “I’m devastated to learn of the passing of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a member of the West Virginia National Guard. She was only twenty years old,” he wrote, as if she simply slipped away in her sleep.
Passing? This wasn’t a quiet departure but a cold-blooded murder, and Mamdani’s soft language feels like a deliberate dodge of the brutal truth.
Critics on X, from elected officials to commentators, have pounced on this choice of words, accusing him of downplaying the violence to avoid uncomfortable realities.
Goldie Ghamari, a political analyst, didn’t mince words, stating, “Words matter,” and arguing that Mamdani’s phrasing minimizes what she described as a terrorist act on American soil.
Contrast this with Mamdani’s past rhetoric—where he’s quick to label law enforcement actions or Israeli military responses as murderous or genocidal—and the inconsistency is glaring. If traffic violence or foreign policy can warrant such fiery condemnation, why does a soldier’s execution merit only a whisper of sorrow?
This isn’t just a slip; it’s a pattern that fuels distrust among those who value plain speech over progressive wordplay, especially when American lives are lost in such a horrific manner.