Newsom Condemns Violence ‘Of Any Kind’ After National Guard Troops Are Shot in DC

California lawmakers are condemning political violence after two National Guard troops were shot near the White House on Wednesday.

According to West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, both of the troops were members of the state’s National Guard contingent. He initially said both had died, but later walked back the statement to say his office was “receiving conflicting reports” about their condition.

FBI Director Kash Patel and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser said the Guard members were hospitalized in critical condition.

“There must be zero tolerance for violence — of any kind — against the brave men and women in uniform who selflessly serve our communities and our country,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement on social media. He called the shooting “horrific and unacceptable.”

The guardsmen were shot shortly after 2 p.m. Eastern time on the corner of 17th and H streets, near a Washington Metro station just two blocks northwest of the White House. According to the Associated Press, one of the officers was shot in the head.

Jeffrey Carroll, an executive assistant D.C. police chief, said investigators had no information on a motive. He said the assailant “came around the corner” and immediately started firing at the troops, citing video reviewed by investigators.

“This was a targeted shooting,” Bowser said.

In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump, who is in Florida, said the gunman was also injured. He called the perpetrator an “animal” and said they would “pay a very steep price.”

The Trump administration quickly ordered 500 more National Guard members to Washington following the shooting. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Trump asked him to send the extra troops.

After hearing the gunfire, other troops in the area ran over and held down the shooter after he was shot, Carroll said.

“It appears to be a lone gunman that raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard,” Carroll said, adding that it was not clear whether one of the Guard members or a law enforcement officer shot the suspect.

“At this point, we have no other suspects,” Carroll said at a news conference.

At least one of the Guard members exchanged gunfire with the shooter, said another law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Social media video shared in the immediate aftermath showed first responders performing CPR on one of the troops and treating the other on a glass-covered sidewalk.

“Our family is praying for the West Virginia Guardsmen, their loved ones and their unit, after today’s horrific shooting in D.C.,” Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said on social media. “We condemn this violent act and thank the heroic first responders for rushing to the scene.”

East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell, who launched a 2026 gubernatorial campaign last week, also denounced the incident.

“My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all emergency responders on the scene,” he wrote on the social media platform X.

“There is no place for violence like this in America,” Sen. Alex Padilla wrote.

The shooting comes amid concerns of escalating political violence after multiple high-profile assassinations this year, and months after the Trump administration deployed National Guard troops to the D.C. area, citing high crime and calling the condition of the city “a national disgrace.”

“The local government of the District of Columbia has lost control of public order and safety in the city,” the White House memorandum from August said. Washington is one of nine cities where the administration has sent federal officers, ostensibly to control crime issues.

The deployments, which included Los Angeles, raised criticism from Democratic leaders that they would only serve to inflame tensions.

In June, when Trump ordered 2,000 troops to L.A., Newsom wrote on social media that it was “the wrong mission and will erode public trust.”

“That move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions,” Newsom wrote.

In Washington, Trump’s emergency order in August federalized the local police force and sent in National Guard troops from eight states and the District of Columbia. The order expired a month later, but the troops remained.

Nearly 2,200 troops are currently assigned to the joint task force operating in the city, according to the government’s latest update.

Last week, a federal judge ordered an end to the deployment but also put her order on hold for 21 days to allow the Trump administration time to either remove the troops or appeal the decision.

The Guard members have patrolled neighborhoods, train stations and other locations, participated in highway checkpoints and been assigned to pick up trash and to guard sports events.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.