New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is under fire for his response to the killing of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old member of the West Virginia National Guard who was shot near the White House. The alleged attacker, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan migrant who entered the U.S. through President Biden’s “Operation Allies Welcome” program.
In a Thanksgiving Day post on X, Mamdani expressed sorrow over Beckstrom’s death but avoided mentioning the violent circumstances of her murder. “I’m devastated to learn of the passing of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom,” Mamdani wrote, without referencing the shooter or the motive. Critics have blasted Mamdani for using the term “passing” and omitting the reported details that the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire.
Online backlash was swift. Critics from across the political spectrum accused Mamdani of downplaying the killing and employing language that minimizes the act of terrorism. Commentators pointed out the stark contrast between Mamdani’s soft tone here and his more aggressive rhetoric when criticizing police, Israel, and traffic-related deaths in the past.
Conservative commentators and elected officials alike highlighted the omission, calling it “dishonest” and “whitewashing.” Some went further, questioning Mamdani’s political judgment and labeling his reaction as proof of an ideological bias that shields Islamist extremism from appropriate condemnation.
Lakanwal, the alleged shooter, reportedly ambushed Beckstrom and fellow Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, shooting both. Beckstrom died from her injuries; Wolfe remains in critical condition. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has confirmed that Lakanwal could face the death penalty.
The controversy comes amid growing scrutiny of the Biden administration’s vetting of Afghan evacuees. Critics argue that Mamdani’s statement ignores the wider implications of admitting poorly vetted migrants and fails to show proper respect to a soldier killed in the line of duty.
