President Donald Trump addressed the nature of the incident and publicly denounced the tragedy of a young couple who were killed in a shooting at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Trump reacted to the shocking incident with a statement on Truth Social. He wrote, “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”

Following the fatal shooting, Israel also posted a heartfelt statement on X, expressing its profound sadness over the deaths of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, two embassy employees. The statement, which described the incident as a “brutal terrorist attack,” expressed profound sorrow over the loss.

Additionally, the message emphasised the bravery and selflessness of Israeli diplomats, characterising them as people who “stand on the frontlines of Israel’s diplomatic efforts — defending the country with their very lives.” It concluded with a forceful proclamation that Israel will continue its international role with pride and unflinching resolve, and that it will not be deterred by acts of terror.

The Israeli Embassy in the United States also issued a statement describing the two as “friends and colleagues” who “were in the prime of their lives.” They were killed in what the embassy described as a terrorist incident as they were exiting an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

The statement also read, “The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder. No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss.”

The embassy came to the conclusion that its thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and promised to support them during this trying period.

The careers of Milgrim and Lischinsky in the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., were booming. Milgrim has two Master’s degrees and was employed at the Department of Public Diplomacy. One is in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from the University for Peace, while the other is in International Affairs from American University.

Lischinsky, meanwhile, a research assistant in the Political Department for Middle East and North African Affairs, had a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Asian Studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Master’s degree in Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy from Reichman University in Herzliya.

Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, also disclosed that Milgrim and Lischinsky were not only doing well in their careers but were also getting ready to make a big personal move.

Lischinsky had bought a ring and was going to pop the question in Jerusalem the following week, so the couple was on the verge of being engaged. What could have been a calm evening at the museum turned violent, unfortunately ending their lives.

The Israeli Embassy stands unwavering in the face of the tragedy, promising not to allow terrorism to use needless killing to further its political objectives. Additionally, Donald Trump promised the embassy that he would cooperate in the fight against and eradication of antisemitism.

The Trump Administration has underlined their commitment to ensuring justice for the young couple, and the individual responsible for the attack has been apprehended.

The man who is suspected of killing two employees of the Israeli Embassy remained inside the location prior to his arrest, pretending to be a bystander and accepting assistance from guests. The accused shooter, identified as Chicago, Illinois resident Elias Rodriguez, 30, is thought by authorities to have acted alone.

The shooting happened just after a 9 p.m. event hosted by the American Jewish Committee came to an end. Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department said the man was seen pacing outside the museum before he approached a group of four people, drew a revolver, and started shooting.

“After the shooting, the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by event security. Once in handcuffs, the suspect identified where he discarded the weapon, and that weapon has been recovered, and he implied that he committed the offense. The suspect chanted, ‘Free, free Palestine,’ while in custody,” noted Chief Smith.

Additionally, a number of eyewitnesses have given unsettling descriptions of the suspect’s actions both prior to and following the shooting. The suspect waited with participants and posed as a spectator, according to 28-year-old Sara Marinuzzi, who was there at the event, who spoke to CNN.

“There were some more shots, and then a guy came running into the center, and the security guards offered him water, trying to comfort him. He was kind of having erratic behavior. They figured he witnessed the shooting,” she said. “I did it, I did it for Gaza. Free Palestine!”

Another eyewitness, Jojo Kalin, who organized the event and is a board member of the American Jewish Committee, recounted her encounter with the suspect. Kalin did not witness the shooting but interacted with the man inside the building, noting that he appeared “very distraught” afterward.

“At that point, there was some frenzy and some commotion. The security started locking the doors, and a friend of mine said they let someone in off the street,” Kalin shared.

“He seemed very distressed, so I assumed he was a witness to it, and I offered him water. He said, ‘Yes.’ I went to get him water. The moment I handed him the glass of water, he then whipped out a red Jordanian keffiyeh and said, ‘Free Palestine.’ And then the security ran in, subdued him. They didn’t tackle him, but they got him outside,” she recounted.

Kalin emphasized that she never saw a weapon and only later learned that two people had been killed. “I feel guilty that the people were only here on account of our event. I’m confused as to how, of all the people he could have picked, he found the Israeli embassy workers. It’s clearly a targeted anti-semitic attack, like you’re coming to a Jewish museum.”

Despite not knowing the victims, Kalin told the BBC that he felt guilty and sad. “I didn’t know the couple who were shot but I do feel a sense of guilt, and it’s a very uniquely Jewish thing to feel guilty for the fact that they were there because of an event I organised and then feeling guilty about my guilt when I shouldn’t be centering myself when people’s lives were just lost.”

She explained that the event itself focused on peace and coalition-building efforts. “I’m not going to lose my humanity over this or be deterred. And that Israelis and Palestinians both still deserve self determination and [it is] just deeply ironic that that’s what we were discussing. It was bridge building and then we were all hit over the head with such hatred.”

Eyewitness Paige Siegel told CNN she unknowingly spoke to the suspect after the shooting. “I went up to him and asked if he was okay as he muttered call the police again and again. He said he was okay. Then I asked if he was shot, he said he wasn’t,” Siegel recalled.

Siegel further expressed, “He was so shaken when I spoke to him that he seemed harmless. Obviously I didn’t know at the time.” She added that once the police arrived, he was apprehended while yelling “Free Palestine!”

Reflecting on the experience, Siegel said, “Here we are, a bunch of Jews lumped in one room for him to pick us off. The terrorist sat on a bench, amongst us.”

After the fatal incident, Israeli officials reacted promptly. The Israeli Embassy in Washington’s spokeswoman, Tal Naim Cohen, told X that the embassy has a great deal of faith in local and federal law enforcement to look into the incident carefully and protect Israeli employees and Jewish communities across the United States.

In the meantime, President Isaac Herzog spoke out about the attack and denounced it as an act of antisemitism and extreme prejudice. He expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and said the fatalities were young members of the embassy staff.

The Israeli people are in sympathy with the Jewish community in Washington and throughout the United States, the president said, reaffirming his support for the embassy and its employees.

He emphasised that Israel and America would continue to defend their common values and stand together against those who incite hatred and violence in spite of such acts of terror.

As authorities attempt to ascertain the complete circumstances surrounding the attack, the investigation is still ongoing.