President Donald Trump has acted rather bizarrely with reporters in the last few months, calling them “piggy,” “ugly,” “stupid,” or just a “terrible person.” His recent response took the weirdness to the next level.
This weekend, his response to a repeatedly asked question left reporters puzzled.
On Sunday, aboard Air Force One, a journalist asked Trump about the consequences for the ICE agent who shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis, and what it means for them to be immune from prosecution.
Highlights
- President Trump gave a bizarre response about an ICE agent who fatally shot Renée Nicole Good, calling her a violent, radical person.
- Trump defended ICE agents' 'absolute immunity' and said law enforcement must be respected despite ongoing protests.
- Vice President JD Vance stated the shooter was covered by full federal immunity regardless of facts surrounding the incident.
Trump had a bizarre response to a question about the ICE agent who shot Good
Image credits: Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Nationwide protests have broken out after the ICE agent killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen, who he alleged tried to ram him with her car during a protest.
The Trump administration has defended the agent’s actions, citing that Good had been “stalking and impeding” the agency’s “lawful operations” throughout the day before the shooting. Good’s neighbor and eyewitness has refuted this allegation.
Members of the administration have also claimed that ICE agents enjoy “absolute immunity.” The reporter asked Trump how the administration defined “absolute immunity,” and what it would mean for ICE agents.
“Everyone’s seen it,” Trump responded. “A woman who’s very violent. She’s a, you know, very radical person. Very sad what happened. Her friend was very radical.”
Image credits: Samuel Corum/Getty Images
When the journalist repeated his question, Trump said, “Well, I’m going to let the people define it. But immunity, you know what immunity, what knows means as well as I do.”
He went on to describe how “well” law enforcement has been doing in the U.S, before berating former President Joe Biden.
Reporters continued asking Trump whether ICE agents should have absolute immunity or if the deadly force was necessary. “It was highly disrespectful of law enforcement,” Trump said, before adding, “The woman and her friend were highly disrespectful of law enforcement. You saw that they were harassing them, were following for days and for hours. And I think frankly they’re professional agitators.”
Last year, Trump pardoned more than 1,500 defendants who had attacked police officers during the Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021.
While both Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had alleged Good was trying to run over the agents with her car, video released later appeared to show that Good’s tires were turned away from the agents.
Vice President JD Vance then implied the facts were irrelevant because the shooter was “doing his job” and was hence covered by full federal immunity.
The footage was taken on the bodycam of the ICE agent who fired the shots. Good can be heard telling him, “That's fine, dude, I'm not mad at you.”
Vance said facts about the killing were irrelevant, and the ICE agent was covered by full federal immunity
Retired Chicago Police Lieutenant John Garrido told ABC7 Chicago that Good did not appear to be acting aggressively.
“She first cuts her wheels to the right, and when she backs up, it actually repositions her car. Now facing him. He doesn't move that much,” Garrido said, adding that training shows you wouldn't want to be standing in front of a vehicle.
“The vehicle backs up and the front of her car realigns and repositions, and that's how he ends up where he is... Unfortunately, when you get the rhetoric from Krisi Noem or from the president, you know when it sounds like this is an open and shut case, it's all a done deal, that that effect impacts the public trust,” Garrido said.
The Trump administration has also tried to prevent the state of Minnesota from investigating Good’s killing. The state has jurisdiction over potential murder cases.
Image credits: Alex Kormann/Getty Images
According to the Wall Street Journal, there have been 13 instances of immigration agents firing at or into civilian vehicles since July. At least eight people have been shot, including five American citizens and two who have been confirmed dead.
Immigration agents have opened fire a total of 16 times since Trump returned to office, according to data by The Trace, a non-profit newsroom investigating gun violence in the U.S.
When the reporter asked Trump whether “disrespect” was enough to justify killing a U.S. citizen, Trump interrupted her, saying, “I’d like to find out—and we are going to find out—who’s paying for it.”
He added, “But just, with their brand new signs and all the different things, but these are professional agitators and law enforcement should not be in a position where they have to put up with this stuff.”