On Tuesday night, President Trump delivered his crucial State of the Union Address at the Capitol Building, focusing not only on the economy and tariffs but also on “law and order” and the “revival of the American spirit.” During his speech, he honored two National Guard members who had risked their lives to protect the capital.
In the House Chamber of the Capitol Building, Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Andrew Wolfe from West Virginia National Guard sat shoulder to shoulder with his mother, Melody. In late November 2025, Wolfe was ambushed near Farragut Square while patrolling with his unit to enforce Trump’s executive order to combat rampant crime in Washington, D.C., resulting in a gunshot wound to his head.
Recalling the scene, Trump said in his speech, “Doctors thought Andrew was done for, but his mother Melody told me: ‘No, Mr. President, Andrew will be fine.’ Everyone was praying at that time, and she showed unprecedented strength and determination.”
Looking at Wolfe, Trump continued, “With God’s help, Andrew survived from the brink of death—when I say brink of death, I mean it. He is now on the miraculous road to recovery.”
The speech paused briefly as West Virginia National Guard General James Seward personally awarded the Purple Heart to Wolfe, who was dressed in a suit. The whole room erupted in minutes-long bipartisan applause.
At the same time, Trump also paid heartfelt tribute to another hero—late U.S. Army Commissioner Sarah Beckstrom from West Virginia. The 20-year-old girl was injured in the same attack and tragically sacrificed her life on Thanksgiving Day. Beckstrom’s parents, Gary and Evalea, accepted this honor on behalf of their daughter.
Addressing the Beckstrom couple, Trump said, “Your daughter is a true American patriot, and she will be deeply missed. She was a perfect one, and we will seek justice for her.”
The perpetrator who attacked these two soldiers was identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. Authorities stated that Lakanwal was evacuated and resettled in the U.S. through the Biden administration’s “Operation Allies Welcome” in 2021.
During his speech, Trump stated that this gunman “should not have been in our country” and called on Congress to pass strict legislation to ensure dangerous criminals and illegal individuals are permanently detained. He emphasized that since deploying the National Guard to Memphis and Washington, D.C. last year, law and order have gradually been restored, with “the crime rate in Washington currently at its lowest level in history.”
Trump concluded by emphasizing that the commitment to revitalizing the American vision must be built on the foundation of community safety, stating that “from the streets of Washington, D.C. to overseas operations, the courage of Americans never falters.”