Vice President JD Vance says the Trump administration will confront political violence and domestic terrorism while standing firmly behind federal immigration officers following a fatal confrontation in Minnesota.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the Trump administration will not tolerate political violence or terrorism “of any kind,” while forcefully defending a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer involved in the fatal shooting of a woman during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
Vance spoke at a White House briefing as federal authorities continue investigating the incident in which ICE agents shot Renee Nicole Good after officers approached her vehicle, which was blocking a street. Administration officials have said Good attempted to drive her car toward an agent, prompting the officer to fire in self-defense.
“These people should not feel emboldened because they have, for the first time, maybe in American history, an administration that is not going to tolerate political violence of any kind from anywhere,” Vance told reporters.
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He repeatedly rejected claims that the shooting amounted to murder. “She was trying to ram this guy with her car. He shot back. He defended himself,” Vance said.
Vance accused much of the media of mischaracterizing the incident in ways that endanger law enforcement. “The way that the media, by and large, has reported this story has been an absolute disgrace,” he said, adding that such coverage “puts our law enforcement officers at risk every single day.”
He said he intentionally described the incident as an attack rather than a shooting. “I say attack very, very intentionally because this was an attack on federal law enforcement. This was an attack on law and order. This was an attack on the American people,” Vance said.
Vance emphasized that President Donald Trump and the administration stand behind immigration officers. “The president stands with ICE. I stand with ICE. We stand with all of our law enforcement officers,” he said.
He sharply criticized reporters who described Good as an innocent bystander. “Everybody who’s been repeating the lie that this is some innocent woman who was out for a drive in Minneapolis when a law enforcement officer shot at her, you should be ashamed of yourselves,” Vance said.
When asked whether he was prejudging the investigation, Vance said he could not know Good’s intent but said the officer had reason to fear for his life. “What I am certain of is that she violated the law,” he said, adding that the officer had “every reason to think that he was under very serious threat.”
Vance said debate over whether Good panicked or acted deliberately was fair, but rejected portrayals of the shooting as unjustified. “What’s not reasonable is for some of you to plaster all over the media that this was an innocent woman and that the ICE agent committed murder,” he said.
Footage of the incident, shown publicly in a video, depicts multiple ICE agents approaching a maroon SUV before it moves forward and shots are fired. Additional footage shows the officer standing in front of the vehicle as it begins to move.
Democratic leaders disputed the administration’s account. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called on ICE to leave the city, while Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appeared to imply the state was at odds with the federal government.
Vance accused Minnesota officials of fueling hostility toward federal agents and called on Walz to resign. “Minneapolis officials are encouraging people to commit violence against ICE officials,” he said.
He also warned that any attempt by state or local authorities to prosecute the ICE officer would fail. “You have a federal law enforcement official engaging in federal law enforcement action. That is a federal issue,” Vance said. “That guy is protected by absolute immunity.”
Vance said the administration believes there is a broader organizing effort behind attacks on immigration officers. “There is an entire network, and frankly, some of the media are participating in it, that is trying to incite violence against our law enforcement officers,” he said, adding that investigators are working to determine who is funding, supporting and coordinating such actions.
He urged critics of immigration policy to pursue opposition through elections rather than confrontations. “Why don’t you take this to the ballot box?” Vance said, warning that some activists are encouraging violence against officers.
Vance also announced the creation of a new, Senate-confirmed assistant attorney general position to investigate fraud nationwide. The role, he said, will operate out of the White House under his and the president’s supervision and will begin work in Minnesota, where large-scale fraud schemes involving federally funded programs have been uncovered.
“This is the person who is going to make sure we stop defrauding the American people,” Vance said, explaining that the structure avoids constitutional issues associated with special counsels.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has also defended the officer, stating that the agent previously survived a vehicle attack during an anti-ICE riot. Trump similarly defended law enforcement in a Truth Social post, calling Good “very disorderly” and blaming the “Radical Left” for threatening and targeting federal officers.
The administration says investigations into the shooting and related organizing and financing efforts are ongoing, and that federal immigration enforcement will continue.
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