A Fox News segment devolved into a heated confrontation on Wednesday as guest host Jason Chaffetz clashed with contributor Ted Williams over President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy 500 additional National Guard members to Washington, D.C., following a shooting that left one guardsman critically injured and one member dead.
The on-air dispute occurred during “The Ingraham Angle” on Nov. 27, 2025, just hours after two National Guard members were shot near the White House in what authorities believe was a targeted attack. The shooting took place near the Farragut West Metro Station, just blocks from the president’s residence, sending shockwaves through the nation’s capital.
Williams, a former detective with the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department who now serves as a Fox News contributor, strongly questioned the president’s response to the incident. He expressed particular concern about deploying more troops to the streets of Washington in the wake of the attack.
“One of my deepest concerns right now is that the president has decided to send 500 additional National Guard members to the District of Columbia,” Williams said during the broadcast. “And I’m asking, why in the hell are you doing that, President?”
Williams elaborated on his concerns, explaining that National Guard members already stationed in the capital would be on high alert following the shooting of their fellow servicemembers. He warned that such heightened tension could lead to dangerous situations, invoking the 1970 Kent State incident as a cautionary example.
The legal analyst and former law enforcement officer argued that National Guard members are not trained to perform law enforcement duties, suggesting their deployment for such purposes could prove problematic. His position reflected concerns about the appropriate use of military personnel in civilian policing situations, a debate that has long divided policymakers and security experts.
Chaffetz, who was guest-hosting the program, reacted with visible shock to Williams’ criticism. The former congressman interrupted Williams to challenge his stance, questioning whether he viewed the National Guard as allies or threats in the current situation.
“Ted, Ted, are the National Guardsmen the good guys or the bad guys?” Chaffetz asked. “I can’t believe this. Why do you want less good guys? I’m shocked to hear you say that.”
The exchange grew more contentious as Williams attempted to clarify his position. He emphasized that while the National Guard presence was welcome in Washington, he believed politics should be set aside in favor of focusing on the recovery of the wounded servicemembers and understanding the shooter’s motives. Williams stressed that determining why someone would randomly ambush and shoot two National Guard members should be the priority.
Chaffetz countered by defending Trump’s swift action, arguing that increasing troop presence sends an important message that such attacks will not be tolerated or rewarded with reduced security. He pointed to reported crime reductions in Washington as evidence that the National Guard deployment strategy has been effective.
The deployment order came at the request of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following Wednesday’s shooting. Thousands of National Guard troops have already been stationed in the capital for months as part of the Trump administration’s federal crime crackdown initiative in Washington.
Authorities detained a suspect identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal in connection with the shooting. Trump addressed the nation in a video statement, characterizing the incident as an act of evil, hatred, and terror. The president noted that the suspect arrived in the United States in September 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program established to resettle Afghans following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
As the segment concluded, Chaffetz urged Williams to reconsider his position, insisting that fewer National Guard members could not be the solution to the security concerns raised by the shooting. The host argued that increasing troop presence represented the appropriate response to protect both military personnel and civilians in the nation’s capital.
President Donald Trump announced that one of the two West Virginia National Guard soldiers shot by the Afghan national near the White House had died. He described the suspect, who had previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, as a savage monster.
Speaking during a Thanksgiving call with U.S. service members, Trump said he had just been informed that 20-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom had succumbed to her injuries, while 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was still fighting for his life.
The confrontation between Chaffetz and Williams highlighted the complex questions surrounding military deployment in civilian areas, even within a network typically aligned with the president’s policies. The disagreement demonstrated that Trump’s security decisions continue to generate debate across the political spectrum, including among those who frequently support his administration’s initiatives.
