Trump Defends ICE Officer in Minneapolis Shooting, Blames ‘Radical Left’ as Officials Dispute Account
Minneapolis, Minn. — Jan. 7, 2026 — President Donald Trump publicly defended a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer involved in a fatal shooting in south Minneapolis on Wednesday, characterizing the incident as self-defense and blaming what he called “Radical Left” violence against law enforcement.
In a social media post issued after viewing video of the encounter, Trump said the ICE officer appeared to have acted in self-defense after a woman allegedly used her vehicle to assault agents. Trump described the scene as “horrible to watch,” claimed the woman was a “professional agitator,” and said the officer was recovering in the hospital. He urged support for ICE agents and law enforcement officers nationwide.
The shooting occurred near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue during a large-scale federal immigration enforcement operation that has brought thousands of ICE agents into the Twin Cities region. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE vehicles became immobilized in snowy conditions when the woman allegedly attempted to ram officers with her SUV, prompting an agent to fire his weapon. The woman was struck inside the vehicle and later pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center.
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Local and state officials sharply disputed the federal account after reviewing video footage of the incident. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the DHS version of events does not align with what is seen on video, calling the self-defense claim inaccurate and accusing ICE of recklessly escalating the situation. Police Chief Brian O’Hara stated the footage does not appear to show the vehicle being used intentionally as a weapon against officers.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced that the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI will conduct a joint investigation into the shooting. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty also called for a transparent review of the use of force.
Witnesses said ICE agents surrounded the SUV before shots were fired and that the vehicle appeared to be moving slowly at the time. Protests erupted shortly after, with federal agents deploying chemical irritants to disperse crowds.
Officials said the woman was not believed to be the target of any immigration investigation. The incident remains under active federal and state review as tensions continue over expanded ICE operations in Minneapolis and other sanctuary jurisdictions.
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