Famed late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel has questioned President Donald Trump’s explanation of a fatal shooting incident in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The shooting, involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, resulted in the death of a local woman.
The victim, 37-year-old mother Renee Nicole Good, died during an ICE operation. The event sparked protests throughout Minneapolis after being caught on video, drawing scrutiny from both local authorities and national observers.
President Trump defended the ICE agent, insisting that Good had tried to run him over, a claim disputed by video evidence, implying the shooting was a matter of self-defense. The President depicted Good as disorderly and defiant during the incident.
During his show, Kimmel relayed the story and focused on Trump’s interpretation. After examining the video, Kimmel told his viewers that it didn’t appear that anyone had been run over, contradicting Trump’s claim. Instead, the video showed a frightened woman attempting to flee and subsequently being shot three times.
The fatal incident unfolded when an ICE agent was filmed ordering Good to exit her Honda SUV. The agent fired three shots into the moving vehicle, all of which struck Good, with one hitting her in the head.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey challenged the self-defense narrative put forth by federal officials at a news conference. Kimmel supported Frey’s argument, brandishing a custom t-shirt bearing the slogan “GET THE F*** OUT OF MPLS” to his audience’s applause.
Despite the controversy, the Trump administration initially firmly backed the ICE agent. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the agent’s actions, stating he followed his training. Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Tricia McLaughlin, implied Good had used her vehicle as a weapon against the officers.
The Department of Homeland Security labeled the incident as domestic terrorism, a description disputed by civil rights advocates and local officials, given the events depicted in the video.
Good’s mother, Donna Ganger, identified her daughter following the shooting. Good, known for her poetry and motherhood, leaves behind three children. The family has hired Romanucci & Blandin, the same law firm that represented George Floyd’s family, for a civil investigation.
Other late-night hosts, including Stephen Colbert, have also commented on the incident. Colbert criticized the Department of Homeland Security for quickly labeling the shooting as self-defense.
Chris Hayes suggested that for many who watched the video, the incident appeared to be “cold-blooded murder.”
Fox News host Jesse Watters faced backlash for his comments about Good on his show. Watters mentioned Good’s use of pronouns, sparking immediate criticism on social media.
Watters’s remarks were deemed inappropriate and insensitive by critics, considering the tragic circumstances of Good’s death. The comments also highlighted the deep cultural and political divides over immigration enforcement and the use of force by federal agents.
The shooting, which occurred on January 7, 2026, has reignited debate over ICE operations, the use of force by federal agents, and the extent of immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
The video footage of the incident has been seen millions of times, raising questions about the methods used during the operation. In response, protesters have gathered in Minneapolis demanding accountability and changes in immigration enforcement in residential areas.
The incident is among the most controversial in recent immigration enforcement history, raising questions about the conditions that justify the use of lethal force by federal agents and the effectiveness of existing training and protocols in protecting both officers and civilians.
As the case continues to gain national attention, pressure is increasing on local and federal authorities to provide a detailed account of the events in Minneapolis. The differing narratives between federal officials who defended the shooting and local authorities who criticized it have created a complex legal and political situation that is likely to evolve in the following weeks and months.