By Sardar Durrani — Marathon Runner, Writer, Witness to a Nation Finding Its Strength
As a marathon runner, I’ve learned that survival depends on clarity: you act early, you act decisively, and you protect your energy before a threat becomes a disaster. This week, President Donald Trump demonstrated that same clarity of leadership after a tragic shooting shook the nation’s capital.
Late on Thanksgiving night, President Trump declared that he would “permanently pause migration from all third world countries”, a bold decision grounded in one hard reality—“they came in unvetted.”
That statement, sharp as a starter pistol at a race, captures the truth behind America’s current challenge. For years, systems meant to protect Americans have been overwhelmed, inconsistent, or outright ignored. And now, after the killing of a National Guard member in Washington, D.C., the President has made it clear: enough is enough.
A Tragedy That Exposed a Broken System
The nation was shaken when Sarah Beckstrom, a West Virginia National Guard member, lost her life in a shooting near the White House. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, arrived in the U.S. in 2021 during the rushed Afghanistan evacuation.
For many Americans, this case became proof of what President Trump has been warning about for years: that individuals were brought into the country under chaotic circumstances, without the thorough screening that citizens deserve.
Trump’s message isn’t a political tactic—it’s a response to a painful reality. Allowing people to enter the United States under rushed, poorly regulated programs left dangerous gaps. This was not speculation. This shooting proved it.
Trump’s Vision: Order, Security, and Accountability
The President’s late-night announcement included two major points of action:
- A permanent pause on migration from third-world nations until the system is fully repaired
- Ending all federal benefits and subsidies for noncitizens
- Removing anyone who is not a net asset to the United States
To critics, this may sound strict. But to millions of Americans—including those who serve in uniform—this sounds like responsibility.
Leadership is not about pleasing every voice. Leadership is about protecting every life.
Trump’s vision is rooted in a basic principle that every country in the world understands: a nation cannot survive without secure borders and controlled, accountable migration.
The Afghan Resettlement and the Lesson It Left Behind
The fall of Kabul in 2021 created one of the largest and fastest refugee movements in recent U.S. history. The process was chaotic, rushed, and left even federal agencies acknowledging that not everyone was fully vetted.
The President’s statement—“they came in unvetted”—is not an insult. It is an acknowledgment of a federal failure that must be corrected.
Thousands of Afghan allies genuinely served alongside U.S. forces and deserved protection. But within that enormous flow of arrivals, there were individuals without complete background checks, incomplete records, or unclear histories.
The tragic shooting proved that even one unchecked case can take an American life.
President Trump’s stance isn’t about shutting doors—it’s about tightening them until the hinges are strong again.
America at a Turning Point — Choosing Strength Over Chaos
As someone who has run through this nation’s cities, forests, and long open roads, I’ve met immigrants, veterans, families, and frontline workers. They all share one desire: safety.
And safety requires structure.
President Trump’s bold stance puts that structure back at the center of the national conversation. His approach reminds us that:
- Compassion is meaningless without security.
- Opportunity collapses without order.
- A nation cannot open its arms if it cannot first protect its people.
Trump’s policy shift is not about exclusion—it is about restoring trust. It is about ensuring that when America opens its doors, it does so wisely, deliberately, and with complete knowledge of who is stepping through.
A Nation Reclaiming Control
The coming weeks will bring debate, commentary, and political noise. But the core truth remains: President Trump acted when action was needed most.
In moments of crisis, real leaders take real steps. They don’t wait. They don’t hesitate. They move—like runners hitting the hardest mile with resolve, knowing the finish line is worth every drop of effort.
And right now, America is running a race for its own future.
With this decisive move, President Trump has signaled that the United States will not let tragedy go unanswered. The country will not repeat the same mistakes. The system will be rebuilt—not with weakness or uncertainty, but with strength and clarity.
Because in the end, every nation must protect the people who call it home.
Author’s Opinion — Why I Believe President Trump Is Right
As someone who has run across continents, witnessing how nations rise or fall based on their ability to maintain order, I believe President Trump’s stance is not only justified—it is necessary.
From my perspective, a country without strong borders is a country running without direction. When systems fail, when people slip through without proper screening, when tragedies like the D.C. shooting occur, leaders must step forward with bold solutions. President Trump did exactly that.
He didn’t wait for committees, debates, or political theater.
He acted.
And action, especially in moments of chaos, is what separates true leadership from empty rhetoric.
In my opinion, pausing migration from third-world nations until proper vetting is guaranteed is a matter of survival, not politics. It’s not about rejecting people; it’s about protecting the nation that millions rely on for safety, structure, and opportunity.
Many will criticize the firmness of his approach. But firmness is exactly what has been missing. I’ve witnessed communities thrive when rules are clear and crumble when they are not. If America wants stability, Trump’s decisive policies—especially his insistence that “they came in unvetted” and that such mistakes cannot be repeated—are steps toward rebuilding trust in the system.
As a runner, I know that the hardest part of the race is when everyone else slows down. President Trump is accelerating instead. And in my opinion, that is the kind of leadership America needs right now.
