National Guard Shooting D.C. 2025: Sarah Beckstrom Dies, Trump Vows Immigration Crackdown – Morning Headlines

Updated: November 28, 2025 | Daily Trending News 360 – U.S. News Roundup

The nation’s capital is reeling from a tragic National Guard shooting D.C. 2025 that has claimed the life of a young service member, sparked fierce immigration debates, and thrust a JD Vance ally into the spotlight on Ukraine peace efforts. As families mourn and leaders respond, questions swirl about urban safety, border policies, and even the value of higher education in today’s economy. Here’s your essential morning briefing from Daily Trending News 360.

Sarah Beckstrom Death: Tragic End to Targeted D.C. Ambush

U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old from Summersville, West Virginia, has succumbed to injuries from a brazen shooting near the White House. Beckstrom, who joined the West Virginia National Guard in June 2023 and served with the 863rd Military Police Company, was on duty for the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Mission—a Trump-ordered initiative deploying troops to combat urban crime—when the attack unfolded on Wednesday afternoon. Her father, Gary Beckstrom, spent Thanksgiving at her bedside, holding her hand as she fought a “mortal wound,” before her passing was confirmed Thursday evening.

The second victim, 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, also from West Virginia, remains in critical condition at a D.C. hospital, “fighting for his life” per President Trump’s update during a Thanksgiving video call to troops. The suspect, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal—who entered the U.S. in 2021 via Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome and was granted asylum in April 2025—was injured in the exchange and is in custody. Authorities describe the incident as a deliberate, targeted assault on uniformed personnel, with the FBI probing potential terrorism links.

Beckstrom’s death has ignited national grief and calls for justice. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey initially reported both victims deceased but later corrected amid conflicting updates, expressing profound sorrow for the “brave souls” serving far from home. Afghan advocacy groups like AfghanEvac condemned the violence while urging against broad stigmatization of resettled Afghans, emphasizing accountability under the law. As investigations continue, including reviews of the suspect’s CIA ties, this tragedy underscores the perils of military deployments in domestic roles.

Trump Immigration Pause 2025: ‘Reverse Migration’ Rhetoric Escalates

In a fiery Thanksgiving social media post, President Trump decried the National Guard shooting D.C. 2025 as a “savage attack” by an “animal,” vowing a Trump immigration pause 2025 on all entries from “third world countries” and pushing for “reverse migration” deportations of millions. He offered scant specifics but tied the policy to heightened vetting, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services immediately halting Afghan national processing indefinitely. This follows a federal judge’s recent block on Trump’s Guard deployment, now under emergency appeal post-shooting.

The rhetoric has divided opinions: Supporters hail it as essential security, while critics warn of humanitarian fallout and economic hits from labor shortages. Texas officials pledged ICE cooperation, but big-city police face dilemmas balancing local trust with federal mandates. As D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro lead probes, this incident may redefine urban military roles and border debates heading into 2026.

JD Vance Ukraine Talks: Army Secretary Driscoll Steps Up

Amid domestic turmoil, a close JD Vance Ukraine talks confidant is gaining prominence in global diplomacy. U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll—a Yale Law classmate and longtime friend of Vice President Vance—has emerged as a pivotal envoy in Trump’s push for Ukraine-Russia peace. Dubbed the “drone guy” for his tech savvy, Driscoll shuttled from Kyiv to Geneva and Abu Dhabi last week, presenting a revised 19-point peace framework that secures Ukrainian commitments on core terms like military caps and frozen asset redirects.

His unlikely role—bypassing traditional envoys like Keith Kellogg—highlights Vance’s isolationist sway, with critics decrying the plan as “Moscow-friendly” concessions on NATO and territories. Driscoll’s charm and battlefield insights have won tentative Ukrainian buy-in, including a potential Zelenskyy-Trump summit at Mar-a-Lago. Yet, Russia’s silence and European pushback (from Macron and McConnell) temper optimism. As Vance texts Driscoll regularly, this “Vance machine” tests Trump’s dealmaking legacy amid stalled Gaza parallels. Next: Witkoff’s Moscow trip could seal or sink the ceasefire by December.

Is College Worth It 2025? Dimming ROI Sparks Debate

As headlines collide, a quieter crisis brews: Is college worth it 2025? With tuition up 36.7% since 2010 and $1.7 trillion in student debt, only 22% of Americans say yes if loans are involved, per Pew Research. New York Fed data shows a solid 12.5% median ROI—$80,000 median salary vs. $47,000 for high school grads—but 25% of graduates earn below 2.6% returns, especially in low-demand majors or extended timelines (5-6 years drops ROI to 7-9%).

Unemployment for recent grads hits 5.3%—double the overall rate—while AI disrupts entry-level jobs, per Fortune. Yet, lifetime earnings premium remains $1M+, with non-STEM fields lagging. Experts urge high-ROI majors (STEM, business), debt caps under $37K average, and alternatives like trade schools or apprenticeships. In 2025’s skills economy, college shines for networks and resilience but falters as a “holding pattern”—prompting 49% to doubt its job-market edge vs. 20 years ago. As enrollment dips, hybrid/AI-driven programs may revive appeal, but the luster fades for many.

From D.C. streets to Kyiv tables and campus quads, today’s news tests America’s resolve. Stay informed with Daily Trending News 360—short insights, big impacts. What headline hits home for you?

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