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By Gabe Whisnant
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President Donald Trump quickly defended an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who fatally shot a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis, telling The New York Times that the woman was at fault because she tried to “run over” the officer.
Why It Matters
The president has made cracking down on crime and immigration in Democratic-led cities a centerpiece of his second term, deploying federal agents and National Guard troops and even floating use of the Insurrection Act. His administration dismissed criticism from Democrats and Minnesota officials that the immigration enforcement surge was inflammatory and should end.
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Vice President JD Vance have also said the officer acted in self-defense.
What To Know
Just hours after the shooting, Trump invited Times reporters in the Oval Office to watch surveillance footage on a laptop. “I want to see nobody get shot,” Trump said. “I want to see nobody screaming and trying to run over policemen either.”
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When pressed on his conclusion, Trump asked an aide to pull up the video to prove his point. “That was a vicious situation that took place,” he said, echoing federal officials who claimed Renee Nicole Good attempted to run down an ICE agent.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also defended the agent, saying he “used his training to save his own life and that of his colleagues.” Noem described Good as “stalking” officers and accused her of blocking them with her vehicle.
But state and local officials disputed that account. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called federal descriptions “garbage,” and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said it was barred from participating in the investigation.
As the slow-motion video played in the Oval Office, Times reporters noted it did not appear to show the officer being run over. Trump paused, then said, “Well, the way I look at it … It’s a terrible scene. I think it’s horrible to watch. No, I hate to see it.”
What Happens Next
Drew Evans, head of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said Thursday that federal authorities have blocked the state from accessing evidence in the case, preventing it from investigating the shooting alongside the FBI.
Gov. Tim Walz urged that state investigators be included, warning that residents may not trust federal findings after top officials, including the president and vice president, publicly weighed in.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem disputed that Minnesota was being excluded, saying the state has no jurisdiction in the matter.
Updates: 1/8/26, 7:22 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
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