National guard shooting will likely make Trump crack down even harder

The attack makes the troops' Washington DC exit less likely and offers a convenient data point for rightwing narratives

Washington DC is considered a safe zone," Donald Trump declared on Tuesday, veering off topic at the national Thanksgiving turkey pardoning ceremony at the White House. This was one of the most unsafe places anywhere in the United States. It is now considered a totally safe city."

A day later, two national guardsmen from West Virginia were shot in a busy area a few blocks from the White House in downtown Washington. The ambush took place outside the Farragut West Metro railway station within sight of the Guardian's office (I had been in the station three hours earlier and witnessed national guard troops milling around).