President Trump Speaks Out after 5 Soldiers Shot in Fort Stewart, GA

A quiet morning at Fort Stewart turned violent when gunfire erupted on base, leaving five soldiers wounded. As the investigation unfolds, President Donald Trump has broken his silence on the shocking incident.

After five soldiers were shot on the morning of August 6, 2025, at the Fort Stewart Army Base, US President Donald Trump addressed the incident during an unrelated event at the White House. Speaking to the press that same day, he outlined the measures his office intended to take.

The president began by stating, "As you know, five people were seriously wounded, and two, very, very seriously hurt." He added, "The shooter is now in custody, and the Army Criminal Investigation Division is on site to ensure that the perpetrator of this atrocity, which is exactly what it is, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Trump also said the nation was praying for the victims and their families, expressing hope for their full recoveries. He hoped that this chapter could be closed, though he vowed it would not be forgotten. The president promised, "We're going to take very good care of this person who did this, horrible [sic] person."

According to reports, police were alerted to the shooting in Georgia at 10:56 a.m. EST (15:56 GMT). The suspect was apprehended 39 minutes later at 11:35 a.m. EST. The alleged gunman has been identified as 28-year-old Quornelius Radford, a soldier.

He used his personal handgun to open fire on fellow troops. The firearm was reportedly not issued by the military, and authorities are investigating how he brought it onto the base undetected.

Radford, an automated logistics sergeant assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, injured the soldiers before being tackled by other troops. The shooting, which occurred in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area, prompted a lockdown that lasted over an hour.

Footage posted to social media showed military personnel evacuating the area. Brigadier General John Lubas, commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division, confirmed that the wounded soldiers were receiving treatment and were in stable condition.

Three of the injured soldiers underwent surgery, while two were taken to Memorial Hospital in Savannah for further medical care. All five victims are expected to recover. Speaking to reporters, Lubas confirmed that the alleged shooter was an active-duty soldier who had never been deployed to a combat zone.

The general thanked the "brave soldiers" who intervened, saying they "without a doubt" prevented more casualties. He explained, "Soldiers in the area that witnessed the shooting immediately and without hesitation tackled the soldier, subdued him. That allowed law enforcement to then take him into custody."

Radford, an Army sergeant, is currently in pre-trial confinement and is being questioned by Army criminal investigators while "awaiting a charging decision by the Office of the Special Trial Counsel." However, authorities have yet to reveal a motive.

Lubas also noted that Radford had a prior run-in with the law. In May 2025, local police arrested him for driving under the influence (DUI), an incident the military was unaware of before the shooting.

Lubas stated that, at present, there is no known record of other disciplinary or behavioral issues involving Radford. Despite the recent violence, the general expressed confidence in the base's overall security, saying he is "very confident in the security of this installation."

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp urged the public to pray for the victims. He stated, "We are keeping the victims, their families, and all those who answer the call to serve in our hearts and prayers, and we ask that Georgians everywhere do the same."

One person who was on the military base during the incident, a Burger King manager who works there, described how staff members hid in a safe room after the lockdown was announced. They took shelter in the sealed chamber, which is designed to protect them from external threats, while following updates on social media.

Explaining how they shielded the employees from the sound of gunfire, the unnamed manager said, "I pulled them into the room so they didn't hear anything," continuing, "They knew it was an active shooter but [sic] they didn't know exactly where."

They added, "I wasn't worried about the food, I was worried about my crew," emphasizing, "It's my job to keep them safe." Once it was deemed safe to exit, staff members were overwhelmed with calls from anxious family members.

Outside the restaurant, customers had formed a line, and some sought shelter in their cars in the drive-through queue during the incident.

Fort Stewart is the largest US Army base east of the Mississippi River, spanning nearly 280 acres and housing close to 10,000 people. The base is situated in Hinesville, a coastal town approximately 40 miles southwest of Savannah.

It lies roughly 240 miles southeast of Atlanta.

Unfortunately, the Fort Stewart incident isn't the only one that Trump has personally addressed in recent weeks. He issued a message regarding ongoing tsunami threats affecting the US and surrounding regions.

"Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii. A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States. Japan is also in the way. Please visit tsunami.gov/ for the latest information. STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!" Trump wrote.

The message was shared on both Truth Social and X.

According to information published on tsunami.gov at 9:20 a.m. on July 30, 2025, a Tsunami Warning has been issued for the State of Hawaii and the Oregon/California border to Cape Mendocino, California.

Multiple Tsunami Advisories have also been issued. These include alerts for Attu, Alaska, to Amchitka Pass, Alaska (125 miles west of Adak), Amchitka Pass to Chignik Bay, Alaska, the British Columbia/Alaska border to the Oregon/California border, and Cape Mendocino to the California/Mexico border.

Tsunami waves have already made landfall in Hawaii. The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management confirmed the arrival of the waves in a post on X. The alert, issued at 8:15 p.m. on July 29, urged residents to act immediately and avoid evacuation zones.

CNN also reported on the event, citing data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A tsunami wave over five feet was observed in Kahului, located on the north-central coast of Maui.

The waves reaching Hawaii have triggered widespread evacuations and emergency efforts across the region. In Maui, Oprah Winfrey has opened her private road to assist with evacuation efforts, according to her spokesperson.

"As soon as we heard the tsunami warnings, we contacted local law enforcement and FEMA to ensure the road was opened," the spokesperson told CNN.

"Local law enforcement are currently on site helping residents through 50 cars at a time to ensure everyone's safety. The road will remain open as long as necessary," the spokesperson concluded.

Elsewhere in the state, traffic has built up significantly. Heavy congestion was reported on Interstate H-1 in Honolulu, Hawaii's capital, after officials urged residents to leave coastal areas.

Emergency shelters have been opened, and people have been advised to seek higher ground. Hawaii's governor, Josh Green, also issued a warning, stating that tsunami waves "will wrap around the islands."

The tsunami threat stems from an 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck near Severo-Kurilsk, a remote district in Russia. Though far from the continental United States, the quake's impact is being felt across the Pacific.

In Severo-Kurilsk, a state of emergency was declared after waves tore boats from their moorings and pushed storage containers inland, according to state media TASS and local footage.

In Japan, more than 1.9 million people were ordered to evacuate coastal regions. Videos shared online showed people sheltering on rooftops in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. So far, the country has avoided any major damage.

Thousands of miles away in Hawaii, tsunami waves up to five feet high have already hit areas such as Kahului. Alerts remain in place across the state.

California is also taking precautions. Helicopters have been deployed along coastal zones to warn the public. In Monterey County, the sheriff directed residents living on boats in Moss Landing, a popular surf destination, to evacuate.

With nearly 27 million residents in coastal counties, California has the largest shoreline population in the U.S.

The ripple effects continue across the Pacific. The Philippines, Indonesia, China, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Panama, and Taiwan have issued a range of tsunami advisories, watches, and warnings as the situation develops.

Authorities across the Pacific continue to monitor developments as tsunami waves impact multiple regions. Emergency measures remain active, and residents in affected areas are urged to follow official guidance.