Doctor's Provocative Airport Encounter with ICE Agents Sparks Backlash
A liberal obstetrician-gynecologist with a substantial social media following attempted to stage a confrontation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport, but the encounter unfolded in a manner she seemingly did not anticipate.
The Confrontation That Didn't Go as Planned
Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, who boasts more than 2.8 million followers on TikTok, posted a video on Thursday from JFK Airport where she announced her intention to question the "ICE agents who are allegedly here to help." She added, "We know they're not." Lincoln approached two ICE officers and began by saying, "Excuse me? I just want to say thank you guys for being here."
One agent replied "thank you" with a smile, while the other offered a thumbs up and grinned. Lincoln then abruptly changed her tone, launching into a tirade of insults directed at the agents, who remained composed and unfazed throughout her verbal assault.
"Because I know when I wake up in the morning, I'll never be racist pigs like you," Lincoln declared. "No matter how bad I am, I'll never be like you, so, good job. I hope your moms are real proud of you."
Viral Video Sparks Widespread Criticism
By Friday evening, the video had accumulated over one million views across Instagram and TikTok. However, the response was overwhelmingly negative, with Lincoln facing severe criticism for her behavior and losing hundreds of followers as a result.
One TikTok user commented: "This is so sad to see. As a medical professional myself, I could never treat another human being this way. You put us healthcare workers to shame."
Another added: "What an awful thing to do to people. Disgusting."
In the video, after her failed attempt to provoke a reaction, Lincoln continued filming and shared her thoughts on the one-sided exchange. "They were cute, weren't they? I hope they continue to be best, like Melania," she said, referencing First Lady Melania Trump's "Be Best" anti-bullying campaign from 2018-2021.
"Be best," Lincoln added sarcastically. "Because they are being the best at being the worst, so to them." She concluded by flashing her middle finger at the camera.
Context and Aftermath
ICE officers have been stationed at JFK Airport since March 23 to assist with massive TSA lines and delays caused by a partial government shutdown. While congressional lawmakers have reached a deal to end the shutdown, the House vote has not yet occurred.
In a follow-up video posted Thursday night after landing in Phoenix, Lincoln addressed claims that she had been "very unprofessional for what I did to the ICE agents at JFK." "And you're right, because I insulted pigs," she responded. "I called ICE agents pigs, and pigs, actual pigs, the animals deserve better."
She escalated her rhetoric by accusing ICE of "separating families, letting multiple women miscarry in ICE custody, impregnating children in ICE custody, and … murdering American citizens," and likened the agency to Nazi Germany.
"And so you think it's unprofessional? Cool," Lincoln said. "We know how you would act in 1940s Germany. You've gotten that insight into yourself."
Professional Background and Repercussions
Lincoln, certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2014, acknowledged losing "a few hundred followers on Instagram" but stated she was "fine" with that. "It's not about what you sell or how many followers you have, it's about who you stand up for," she asserted. "Quite frankly, I think that is the most professional thing you can do."
Her public LinkedIn profile describes her as passionate about helping women understand their bodies and advocate for themselves. She has worked at Providence Health and Services in Portland, Oregon since 2016, founded an online reproductive health hub called Three For Freedom, and has served as president of the Society of OB/GYN Hospitalists since 2017.
The Daily Mail has reached out to both Lincoln and ICE for further comment on the incident.
