Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings has sparked a significant political conversation after declaring his voting intentions for the 2028 presidential election, directly linked to the recent fatal shooting of a protester by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
A Political Pledge on Social Media
On Wednesday, the 51-year-old television personality took to the progressive social media platform Bluesky to express his anguish following the death of 37-year-old poet Renee Nicole Good. In a series of posts, Jennings made a stark political commitment. "The 'prosecute the former regime at every level' candidate has my vote in 2028," he wrote. This statement came just hours after former President Donald Trump publicly defended the shooting of Good during a protest in Minneapolis.
Jennings further shared details about Good's life, reposting information that highlighted she was a mother to a six-year-old child, now orphaned. He also circulated an article concerning ICE agents appearing at childcare centres in Minnesota, underscoring the ongoing tension. Good was married to comedian Timothy Macklin, who died in 2023, and was living with her partner, Rebecca Good, 40, at the time of her death.
Controversy and Response
While his posts garnered nearly 75,000 likes on the platform, Jennings also drew mockery from some users. One individual responded to his voting pledge with a quip referencing his game show role: "Sorry, but you must phrase that in the form of a question." Jennings, describing himself as having the "patience of a saint," said he would not block the user but retorted, "You might have something substantive to say instead. Or, even better, you can say nothing at all."
The incident itself remains fiercely contested. ICE claims Good deliberately drove her burgundy SUV at agents, a version of events disputed by witnesses and dismissed as "bulls**t" by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem labelled Good's alleged actions "an act of domestic terrorism" and defended the officer, stating he "acted quickly and defensively, shot to protect himself and the people around him."
Ongoing Tensions and National Repercussions
Jennings's outburst coincides with Vice President JD Vance urging ICE agents to "work even harder" following the shooting. Meanwhile, Secretary Noem confirmed that ICE operations in Minnesota, part of what DHS calls its largest-ever immigration enforcement operation with over 2,000 officers deployed, will continue despite demands from state and local officials for them to leave. More than 1,500 arrests have been reported.
The city of Minneapolis remains on edge. Protesters gathered outside the immigration court on Thursday, carrying signs with slogans like "ICE Out Now" and "Resist Fascism." As a safety precaution, schools have cancelled classes and activities. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has issued calls for calm, but the situation highlights the deep national divisions over immigration policy and law enforcement accountability, a debate now amplified by figures from the world of entertainment.
