Top Trump Intel Official: Afghan Terror Suspect Was ‘Not Vetted’ Before Entering U.S.
A senior Trump administration official has confirmed that Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national accused of ambushing and killing a National Guard soldier in Washington, D.C., was not properly vetted before being allowed into the United States under the Biden administration’s chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Joe Kent, who serves as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), posted a damning statement on X Friday, blaming President Joe Biden for a systemic collapse in national security screening protocols.
“Over 85,000 Afghans — including individuals with backgrounds similar to this shooter — were rapidly admitted into our country without the rigorous vetting that has protected us in the past,” Kent said.
He added that more than 2 million individuals from “Muslim majority nations and regions” surged into the U.S. during Biden’s tenure, often “with minimal scrutiny.” He called this influx a “deadly combination” that ultimately led to the tragedy in D.C.
Lakanwal Was Not Screened for Life in America
Kent emphasized that Lakanwal, 29, was only vetted for combat, not for resettlement into civilian American life:
“He was NOT vetted for his suitability to come to America and live among us as a neighbor, integrate into our communities, or eventually become an American citizen.”
A CIA-Linked Past and a Deadly Ambush
Lakanwal came to the U.S. as part of “Operation Allies Welcome”, Biden’s rushed program to relocate Afghans following the fall of Kabul. He had served in the CIA-backed Kandahar Strike Force, a paramilitary group accused of serious human rights abuses in Afghanistan.
Despite his controversial background, Lakanwal was allowed to relocate to Bellingham, Washington with his wife and five children. He later worked as an Amazon Flex driver, even as signs of mental distress reportedly began to surface.
That instability turned deadly on Thanksgiving Eve when Lakanwal ambushed and shot two National Guard troops near the White House. He used a revolver to fatally shoot Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, before grabbing her rifle and opening fire on Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who remains in critical condition.
Hero Guardsman Stopped the Shooter
The rampage ended only after a hero Guardsman tackled Lakanwal during a reload and stabbed him repeatedly in the head with a pocketknife, subduing the suspect and preventing more deaths.
Federal Charges, Vetting Review, and Trump’s Response
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro confirmed Friday that Lakanwal will face first-degree murder charges, and that more charges could follow.
The Department of Homeland Security’s own inspector general has also acknowledged serious vetting failures. A 2022 report found officials “did not always have critical data to properly screen” evacuees.
Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the Biden administration’s parole programs prevented earlier removal efforts. She added that the Trump administration has now halted all immigration requests related to Afghan nationals pending a review of national security and vetting protocols.
“The Trump Administration is also reviewing all asylum cases approved under the Biden Administration,” McLaughlin said.
Trump: ‘He Went Nuts’
President Trump suggested Lakanwal “went nuts” and called his entry into the country a consequence of Biden’s reckless governance. He pledged to pause migration from all Third World countries, review green cards issued under Biden, and remove those who “do not belong here or add benefit to our country.”
Veterans and intelligence officers have also weighed in. Chad Robichaux, a former Recon Marine and author of Saving Aziz, said there was “zero vetting” for many Afghan nationals evacuated during the Biden pullout. Robichaux shared firsthand experience of Afghans turning on U.S. forces, including one trusted ally who later orchestrated a deadly betrayal.
“Just because you worked with the CIA doesn’t mean you’re safe,” Robichaux warned. “They didn’t know who was on those planes.”