Former President Donald Trump has stated he "felt horribly" about the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minnesota, while controversially claiming that the victim's father was a dedicated supporter of his.
Contradictory Remarks from the Former President
During a White House press briefing marking one year since his second inauguration, Trump addressed the incident that has sparked nationwide political outrage and civil unrest. "I felt horribly when I was told that the young woman who had the tragedy. It's a tragedy. It's a horrible thing. Everybody would say – ICE would say the same thing," Trump told reporters gathered at the briefing.
He then made the unexpected claim about the family's political allegiance. "But when I learned that her parents, and her father in particular… I hope he still is, but I don't know, [he] was a tremendous Trump fan," the former president continued. "He was all for Trump. Loved Trump, and it's terrible."
Previous Characterisation as 'Professional Agitator'
These comments stand in stark contrast to Trump's previous characterisation of the 37-year-old mother, who was shot three times by ICE officer Jonathan Ross earlier this month. The former president had previously described Good as a "professional agitator," while administration officials repeatedly accused her of "domestic terrorism" in the wake of the shooting.
"I was told that by a lot of people," Trump said regarding his claims about Good's father. "They said, 'Oh, he loves you' ... I hope he still feels that way."
Broader Political Context and Investigations
The Department of Justice has issued criminal grand jury subpoenas to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, along with at least three other Democratic officials in the state. These officials stand accused of obstructing the operations of federal immigration agents operating within Minnesota.
Legal experts have noted that the public statements made by these officials, including calls for demonstrators to remain peaceful during protests, are protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Response from Minnesota Leadership
In response to initial reports of the Justice Department investigation last week, Governor Walz criticised Trump for what he called "weaponizing" the justice system against political opponents, describing it as "a dangerous, authoritarian tactic."
Mayor Frey similarly condemned the probes as "an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, local law enforcement, and residents against the chaos and danger this administration has brought to our city."
Escalating Immigration Enforcement in Minnesota
The decision to launch federal investigations and issue subpoenas to Democratic leaders in Minnesota, a state Trump did not win in the 2024 elections, follows a significant surge of immigration officers in the region. This increased presence has resulted in thousands of arrests and widespread accusations that law enforcement is violently targeting both immigrants and citizens alike.
Trump's remarks come amidst ongoing civil unrest across the country following Good's killing and his administration's mass deportation campaign. During the same briefing, the former president claimed to understand "both sides" of the incident while pointing to other individuals he baselessly alleges are "professional agitators" responsible for volatile demonstrations.
"There was another woman that was screaming: 'shame, shame, shame, shame' ... like a professional opera singer," he said. "She was so loud and so professional … These are professional agitators and professional people that want to see our country do badly. But that's not happening because we have the hottest country."
Evolving Narrative About the Victim
In remarks to CBS News earlier this month, Trump offered a somewhat different perspective on Good, suggesting he believed she was likely "a very solid, wonderful person." However, he immediately qualified this statement by adding, "But, you know, her actions were pretty tough."
Speaking to The New York Times around the same period, the former president was more critical, stating: "She behaved horribly. And then she ran him over. She didn't try to run him over. She ran him over."
The contradictory statements from Trump about both the victim and her family have added further complexity to an already polarising incident that continues to generate significant political and social tension across the United States.
