WASHINGTON — A Missouri man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after crashing a rental truck into barriers at the White House, marking a significant incident fueled by extremist ideologies. Court records reveal that the individual, who was 19 at the time of the May 22, 2023, attack, acted out of a fascination with Nazi beliefs.
Sai Varshith Kandula steered a U-Haul truck onto a sidewalk, narrowly missing pedestrians, before colliding with metal bollards designed to protect Lafayette Square, adjacent to the White House. Following the incident, he displayed a Nazi flag retrieved from his backpack, emphasizing his stated intention to “attack and destroy” the U.S. government.
Prosecutors outlined Kandula’s desire to dismantle the democratic process in America and replace it with a dictatorship inspired by Nazi ideology. U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich not only imposed the prison sentence but also mandated three years of supervised release and nearly $57,000 in restitution.
Kandula’s defense highlighted his struggles with schizophrenia and delusional thoughts, including the belief that a “reptilian race” had established control over the U.S. Despite the circumstances, prosecutors recommended the lengthy sentence, having found Kandula guilty of property damage earlier this year.
Prior to the attack, Kandula had reportedly planned the assault for weeks, traveling from St. Louis to Washington, D.C., and renting the truck just hours before the incident. After his collision with the barriers, the vehicle began to smoke and leak fluids, though no weapons or explosives were discovered in his possession.
Video footage captured post-crash revealed Kandula’s intentions, as he admitted to purchasing the Nazi flag out of admiration for the regime’s history, specifically praising Adolf Hitler. Following his arrest, two psychologists confirmed his diagnosis of schizophrenia, attributing his actions directly to his mental health condition.
Experts suggest that Kandula’s conviction could lead to his deportation back to India.
