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The White House was reportedly placed on lockdown on Wednesday following a shooting involving members of the U.S. National Guard near the nation’s capital, raising security concerns in the area.
The shooting occurred close to the Farragut Metro Station, coinciding with a controversial troop deployment to Washington, D.C., ordered by President Donald Trump.
In a post on X, the DC Metropolitan Police stated that officers were present at the scene and advised the public to stay away from the vicinity.
While police have not officially confirmed casualties, law enforcement sources told the Associated Press that two National Guard members were shot. Another source, speaking to the New York Times, reported that only one Guard member was injured in the incident. Details about how the shooting unfolded remain unclear.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “The White House is aware and actively monitoring this tragic situation.” She confirmed that President Trump has been briefed on the incident.
National Guard troops have been stationed in Washington, D.C., for several months as part of Trump’s campaign against crime in the city. The deployment has drawn criticism from several state governors, who have described it as “cruel and purposefully inflammatory.”
In other news, United States tech billionaire Elon Musk on Wednesday urged authorities to adopt stricter policies against repeat violent offenders in the United States.
In a post on X, Musk argued that such measures would significantly reduce violent crime rates across the US.
“Just put repeat violent offenders in prison and there will be a massive drop in criminals repeatedly offending violently,” he wrote on X.
Musk, who has increasingly used his platform, X, to comment on public policy issues, did not elaborate further on the statement. However, his remarks align with his previous criticisms of what he describes as lenient criminal justice approaches in some US cities.
The comment quickly generated widespread online debate, with supporters echoing his call for tougher sentencing, while critics argued that criminal justice reform requires more comprehensive solutions beyond incarceration.
