A controversial legal analyst for MS NOW — the company previously known as MSNBC — is under fire for seemingly rationalizing the shooting of two National Guard troops in downtown Washington D.C. on Wednesday by referencing left-wing opposition to President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy the troops.
Dilanian joined the the network to discuss the shooting shortly after reports surfaced around 2:30 p.m. local time that two soldiers were in critical condition following the shooting. Disturbing footage from the scene showed responding guardsmen and law enforcement personnel doing chest compressions before the injured soldiers were airlifted to area hospitals.
Officials later confirmed that the soldiers were deliberately targeted by a currently unidentified gunman.
“But of course, you know, there’s so much controversy happening in the United States right now with ICE, who are also wearing uniforms and wearing masks,” Dilanian said in the immediate aftermath of the attack.
“And so there’s, you don’t know, people walking around with uniforms in an American city, there are some Americans that might object to that. And so apparently this shooting has happened,” he added, seemingly rationalizing the shooting.
Dilanian was far from the only left-wing media personality to rationalize the attack and blame President Donald Trump. “Two people that are fighting for their lives, guardsmen that this President put there,” said longtime MS Now contributor Al Sharpton.
“And as I said, I was one that was very vocal against that,” he continued before insinuating that the president doesn’t care about the wounded soldiers. “If I am a member of their family, I don’t wanna hear what he’s saying about Honduras now. I wanna pray that these two guardsmen, who were ordered there, and who we’re being told by the mayor were ambushed, make it through. And all of this about sending in 500 people, what does that have do do with where we are now?”
“This is so tragic, so unnecessary, these poor guardsmen should never have been deployed. I live in DC and watched as they had virtually nothing to do but pick up trash,” said Jane Mayer, a contributor for the New Yorker magazine. “It was for political show and at what a cost.”
The White House’s Rapid Response 47 X page responded to Mayer’s post with fury. “You sick, disgusting ghoul. Two of these heroes were just SHOT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. The Guard has saved countless lives — backed up by evidence (which you’re clearly too stupid to notice,” Rapid Response 47 wrote. “They are American Patriots.”
You sick, disgusting ghoul.
Two of these heroes were just SHOT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. The Guard has saved countless lives — backed up by evidence (which you’re clearly too stupid to notice).
They are American Patriots. https://t.co/TpARu2c9eL
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 26, 2025
As of this report, both soldiers remain in critical condition at two separate hospitals. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially reported that both soldiers had passed away as a result of their injuries, though he later retracted his statement due to “conflicting reports” received by his office.
National Guard or law enforcement personnel managed to return fire on the suspect, who was transported to an area hospital after reportedly suffering gunshot wounds.
The FBI has identified an Afghan national as the suspect in the attack, which was deliberately planned, according to the bureau. The suspect is said to be uncooperative with investigators at this time.
