Prominent American late-night television hosts have voiced profound outrage and sorrow following the fatal shooting of a Minnesota woman by a federal immigration officer, criticising the subsequent narrative from the Trump administration as a dangerous assault on truth.
A Mother Killed on a Minneapolis Street
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning in Minneapolis, when Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed by an officer from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). Multiple witness videos of the event circulated widely, showing Good's car appearing to turn away from the officer before he fired shots into the side of her vehicle.
Opening his show on Thursday, Stephen Colbert described the event as "a senseless yet entirely predictable tragedy." He extended condolences to Good's family and community before addressing the footage directly. "It sure looks like a federal agent gunned down an American citizen without cause in front of witnesses on a city street," Colbert stated. He sharply criticised the administration's immediate characterisation of the event, accusing them of telling the public to "believe them and not your eyes."
A Pattern of Violence and 'A Torrent of Untruths'
Colbert highlighted that this was the ninth shooting involving ICE officers since September, suggesting a disturbing pattern rather than an isolated event. His monologue took a darker turn as he interpreted the official response. "So the message from this administration is clear: only they determine the truth, and when their forces come to your city, obey or die," he said. He warned this should serve as an alarm bell for the entire nation, regardless of political affiliation.
On Late Night, Seth Meyers connected the shooting and the ensuing statements to what he called President Trump's broken promises on immigration. Meyers argued that instead of focusing solely on violent criminals as promised, the administration has "blanketed the country with federal agents," disrupting everyday life. He cited recent footage of ICE agents using pepper spray on students at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis and noted that more than 170 US citizens have been detained in recent operations.
Meyers specifically targeted comments from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who labelled Good's actions "an act of domestic terrorism." "That's a blatant lie contradicted by the video evidence we can all see with our own eyes," Meyers retorted. He concluded solemnly, stating that by calling a slain mother a terrorist, the administration reveals its true character.
Public Urged to Witness the Evidence
Jimmy Kimmel also dedicated a segment to the killing, framing it as a fundamental challenge to shared reality. "What do you do when something terrible happens and a big group of people, including those who are running our country, tells you it didn't?" he asked his audience. He strongly encouraged viewers to seek out and watch the video evidence for themselves.
Kimmel expressed disbelief at the official account, describing Good as "an unarmed mama – a devout Christian" with no criminal record, who was trying to flee masked men in the snow. He rejected Secretary Noem's claim that the ICE officer was "following his training" as an insult to both Good and professional law enforcement nationwide. "Apologise, investigate, let justice be served," Kimmel urged.
The case took a further turn on Thursday when the FBI assumed full control of the investigation, blocking Minnesota state officials from accessing evidence. The late-night hosts' collective focus underscored a deep concern over governmental accountability, the weaponisation of language, and the safety of American citizens on their own streets.
