Donald Trump\u2019s late-night Thanksgiving message took an unexpected and explosive turn, leaving many Americans \u2014 including some supporters \u2014 stunned. What began as a standard holiday greeting on Truth Social quickly shifted into a harsh political tirade, fueled by renewed debate over immigration after two National Guard members were shot near the White House. Trump used the moment to call for a \u201cpermanent pause\u201d on immigration from \u201cThird World countries\u201d and sharply attacked several Democratic leaders.<\/p>\n
The timing drew attention because officials identified the suspected shooter as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who arrived in 2021 and was later hospitalized after being shot by law enforcement. Trump blamed current immigration policies for the attack and vowed to reverse recent admissions and impose stricter rules. However, CNN reported that Lakanwal\u2019s asylum claim was actually approved by Trump\u2019s own administration<\/strong> in April 2025 \u2014 contradicting Trump\u2019s criticism. When questioned, Trump dismissed the reporter as \u201cstupid.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s message escalated further as he used a derogatory slur to describe Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and made inflammatory remarks about Representative Ilhan Omar\u2019s background and faith. Walz responded pointedly on social media: \u201cRelease the MRI results.\u201d<\/strong> The aggressive tone of Trump\u2019s post \u2014 especially on Thanksgiving \u2014 drew widespread backlash, with critics calling it divisive and misleading, and supporters insisting he was addressing national security concerns head-on.<\/p>\n With immigration once again dominating political conversation and details of the D.C. shooting still unfolding, Trump\u2019s message has become one of the most debated moments of the holiday. The fallout highlights how deeply polarized the national climate remains \u2014 and how even a holiday greeting can ignite controversy when delivered by Donald Trump.<\/p>\n