Trump Spends Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago Amid National Guard Tragedy

Palm Beach, Florida — President Donald Trump spent Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago with First Lady Melania Trump. The couple arrived at their Florida estate where Trump played golf in the morning.

In the evening, the Trumps participated in a video call with U.S. service members. The Thanksgiving holiday comes in the wake of a tragic shooting that involved members of the National Guard stationed in Washington, D.C.

On Wednesday night, Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Army Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, were injured during a shooting incident. Beckstrom died from her injuries, while Wolfe remains in critical condition after undergoing surgery.

President Trump informed reporters on Thursday that he spoke to Beckstrom’s parents to express his condolences. The shooting suspect has been identified as an Afghan national, who authorities say entered the U.S. under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program.

The suspect, who was also shot during the incident, is in serious condition. During a press conference, Defense Secretary announced that an additional 500 National Guard members would be deployed to the nation’s capital, joining 2,200 already on duty.

Trump condemned the shooting, calling it an ‘act of evil’ and vowing to reassess how Afghan nationals are entered into the U.S. He emphasized that the nation’s security must not be compromised.

This Thanksgiving marks Trump’s 15th visit to Palm Beach since his return to the presidency earlier this year. He traditionally favors his Florida property over other destinations for the holidays. In previous years, Trump has made headlines during his visits, including secretly flying to Afghanistan to celebrate with troops.

This year’s trip follows a period of political tension for Trump as he grapples with controversies surrounding the 2020 election results. The president also faced challenges relating to immigration and national security, which he addressed in his social media statements.