Donald Trump has never been shy about stirring controversy, but this year’s late-night Thanksgiving message ignited a political firestorm unlike anything he’s delivered during the holiday season before. What should’ve been a simple greeting — a moment of national calm — turned into a scorched-earth rant that stunned not just his critics, but many of his own supporters as well.
Hours earlier, the nation was already tense. Two National Guard members had been shot near the White House, setting off alarms about security and immigration policy. Officials identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who arrived in the U.S. in 2021. He was later injured by law enforcement and hospitalized. The tragedy reignited a raging political battle — and Trump seized the moment.
Late that night, he posted a message on Truth Social that began like a standard holiday greeting but quickly veered into hostile territory. What followed wasn’t a Thanksgiving message — it was a political broadside. Trump demanded what he called a “permanent pause” on immigration from all “Third World countries,” tying the D.C. shooting directly to national policy. Then he expanded his criticism, blasting Democratic leaders with fiery language that was shocking even by his standards.
But the part that blew up the internet came next.
In the same message, Trump used a derogatory slur to refer to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and made sharp, inflammatory comments about Representative Ilhan Omar, once again invoking her background, her faith, and her immigrant history. Screenshots of the post spread like wildfire within minutes.
Walz responded within the hour with a short message on X — pointed, cold, and impossible to ignore: “Release the MRI results.”
It was a rare moment where a sitting governor effectively implied a former president was mentally unfit — and did so publicly.
Then CNN revealed a detail that undercut Trump’s core claim. While he implied the Biden administration was responsible for allowing Lakanwal into the country, immigration records showed something else entirely: Lakanwal had applied for asylum in 2024, and his application was approved in April 2025 — under Trump’s own administration.
When a reporter asked Trump about that discrepancy, he dismissed her as “stupid” and sidestepped the correction entirely.
His Thanksgiving message continued for several paragraphs, escalating rather than cooling down. Trump insisted the country was being overrun by people who “hate, steal, murder, and destroy everything that America stands for,” promising that such individuals “won’t be here for long.” The post exploded across social platforms, instantly becoming one of the most discussed political statements of the holiday.
Reactions were predictably split. Trump loyalists praised his bluntness, calling it “necessary truth-telling.” Others — including conservatives who still support parts of his agenda — said the language crossed a line, especially on a day traditionally reserved for unity and gratitude. Immigrant communities, advocacy groups, and several lawmakers condemned the remarks as xenophobic and dangerous.
Meanwhile, independent analysts pointed out that Trump’s proposed “permanent pause” on immigration raises constitutional questions, logistical issues, and potential blowback from allies abroad. But none of that slowed the momentum online. The debate metastasized within hours, with thousands of posts dissecting the slur he used, the timing of the message, and the broader intent behind it.
The backdrop of the D.C. shooting only intensified the discourse. While the investigation remains ongoing, the revelation that the suspect’s asylum approval occurred under Trump’s own administration added a layer of irony — one the former president clearly wanted to avoid addressing.
What made the message even more striking was the sheer contrast between the nation’s expectation — a simple “Happy Thanksgiving” — and what they received: a storm of insults, warnings, and explosive declarations about immigration, national security, and political enemies. It was a reminder that Trump doesn’t shift tone for holidays, for tragedy, or for optics.
And yet, the timing was strategic. Immigration is once again a central issue ahead of 2026, and Trump has always thrived when the national conversation is volatile. This message ensured he dominated the political space across Thanksgiving weekend.
Now, with investigations ongoing, tempers still high, and fact-checkers dissecting every sentence of his post, the fallout from Trump’s Thanksgiving message is far from over. It will shape the debates in the coming days — from cable news panels to kitchen tables.
Whether viewed as refreshing honesty or reckless provocation, one thing is certain: Trump made sure no one ended Thanksgiving night thinking about turkey, gratitude, or family traditions.
He made the day about him — and the country is still arguing about what he said.