Gabbard blasts Democrat Bennie Thompson for calling National Guard shooting an 'unfortunate accident'

"It is absolutely infuriating," Gabbard said on Fox & Friends. "He cannot and refuses to directly identify this attack for what it was, a terrorist attack on our own soil against our National Guard, men and women in this case, who are putting their lives on the line."

Noem responded, "You think that was an unfortunate accident? It was a terrorist attack."

Gabbard said the guard members' "direct mission was to keep the American people safe," and that the exchange between Thompson and Noem "points to the egregious and longstanding problem."

Thompson was asked Friday on "CNN News Central" by co-host Kate Bolduan if he stood by his assertion that the shooting was an "unfortunate accident."

Bolduan then interrupted Thompson, asking him, "You're saying you misspoke?"

"Oh, absolutely. Absolutely," he responded.

Fox News Digital's Marc Tamasco contributed to this report.