JD Vance speaks to troops after DC shooting: 'Soldiers are the sword and the shield'

After news broke that two National Guard members were shot in Washington, D.C., Vice President JD Vance spoke to troops about the report that they had been shot.

"Well, it is great to be here in beautiful Fort Campbell, Kentucky," Vance told the troops gathered on Wednesday for an event to celebrate Thanksgiving. "First, before we get started on a somber note, we had — and some of you may have seen this on your phones or on social media, but apparently there — was a shooting outside the White House just a couple of hours ago."

"There's a lot that we haven't yet figured out. But what we do know is that a couple of National Guardsmen were injured in the line of duty," he continued. "I want everybody who's a person of faith to say a prayer for those two National Guardsmen that they're able to spend Thanksgiving with their families instead of losing their lives because I understand they're still in pretty tough condition."

"But I think it's a somber reminder that soldiers, whether they're active duty, reserve, National Guard, our soldiers are the sword and the shield of the United States of America. And as a person who goes into work every single day in that building, and knows that there are a lot of people who wear the uniform of the United States Army. Let me just say very personally, thank them for what they're doing."