The White House is continuing to defend the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent involved in a fatal shooting in Minnesota, releasing a statement that accuses Democrats of “recklessly” and “deliberately” fueling “hatred and division” toward the agency.
In the post, the administration catalogues 57 examples of what it calls “sick” and “unhinged” Democratic comments about ICE, arguing that lawmakers’ rhetoric has helped create a climate that puts agents in danger.
Why It Matters
The statement follows two separate shooting incidents involving ICE agents this week. The first occurred Wednesday in Minneapolis and resulted in the death of Renee Nicole Good, drawing national attention and sharp criticism from Democrats. The second, on Thursday in Portland, Oregon, left two people wounded; the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has alleged the injured individuals are associates of the Tren de Aragua gang.
Good’s death has intensified partisan conflict, with the White House and Republicans defending ICE agent Jonathan Ross, while Democrats have criticized ICE and called for Ross to be prosecuted. The dispute has remained heated even after news outlets received and published video footage from the agent’s perspective.
Vice President JD Vance has taken a hard line in public comments, describing those who accused Ross of murder as “radicals,” while also calling Good’s death “a tragedy of her own making.”
What To Know
The White House post—published on its website—carries the headline: “57 Times Sick, Unhinged Democrats Declared War on Law Enforcement.” It lists each example and links out to social media posts, interviews, or other clips, while naming the person responsible for the remark.
The administration also praises ICE and its mission, saying the agency “valiantly” defends “our sovereignty and communities,” and ties the message to National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.
In the post, the White House describes Democratic criticism as “smears” and says “unhinged Radical Left Democrats” have escalated “vicious, inflammatory attacks,” including branding ICE agents as “Nazis, terrorists, and Gestapo thugs,” and claims such language encourages supporters to commit violence.
Those cited include U.S. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York), Rashida Tlaib (Michigan), Summer Lee (Pennsylvania), and Joaquin Castro (Texas), along with several mayors: Brandon Johnson (Chicago), Zohran Mamdani (New York City), Michelle Wu (Boston), and Karen Bass (Los Angeles).
Near the top of the list are comments attributed to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz—who has recently been a frequent target of Republican criticism—and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has been leading early polling for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, often narrowly ahead of former Vice President Kamala Harris.
The post ends with an image featuring the phrase “I STAND WITH ICE,” echoing language the White House also shared on social media Thursday.
What People Are Saying
Conservative radio host and author Howie Carr wrote on X: “Check this out from the White House. Do these statements constitute an ‘insurrection?’ Did any of the comrades mention protesting ‘peacefully and patriotically?’”
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: “The woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self-defense. Based on the attached clip, it is hard to believe he is alive, but is now recovering in the hospital. The situation is being studied, in its entirety, but the reason these incidents are happening is because the Radical Left is threatening, assaulting, and targeting our Law Enforcement Officers and ICE Agents on a daily basis. They are just trying to do the job of MAKING AMERICA SAFE. We need to stand by and protect our Law Enforcement Officers from this Radical Left Movement of Violence and Hate!”
Rep. Hank Johnson, a Georgia Democrat, wrote on X: “Speaking of law enforcement, why weren’t you at the anniversary vigil Tuesday honoring the heroism of Capitol Police during the January 6th insurrection, and fallen patriot Brian Sicknick, who was killed protecting our democracy? And yes, your federal henchman was wrong for murdering a mother who was turning away from him, going 3 mph.”
