Former US President Donald Trump has been accused of disseminating propaganda after publishing a series of demonstrably false statements regarding the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Contradictory Accounts of a Fatal Incident
The controversy stems from an incident on the afternoon of 7 January 2026, when a 37-year-old woman was shot dead during an immigration enforcement operation. Authorities stated she appeared to be attempting to drive away from ICE officers at the time.
Shortly after the event, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to comment. "Based on the attached clip," he wrote, "it is hard to believe he is alive, but is now recovering in the hospital." He asserted that video footage showed the driver had "violently, wilfully and viciously ran over" the ICE agent, leaving him injured.
None of these claims are true. Official accounts and available video evidence confirm the shooting officer walked away unharmed. There has been no suggestion from authorities that any agent required hospital treatment.
Political Leaders Condemn "Propaganda Machine"
The response from Minnesota's leadership was swift and severe. Governor Tim Walz directly addressed Trump's post on social media, stating: "I've seen the video. Don't believe this propaganda machine."
In a subsequent press appearance, Governor Walz expanded his criticism, aiming his remarks at Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. "I have a very simple message: We don't need further help from the federal government. To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, you've done enough," he stated.
Walz lambasted the chaotic aftermath of the shooting, noting that federal agents were "milling around, touching the vehicle at a crime scene." He emotionally concluded, "Do you have no decency? We have someone dead in their car for no reason whatsoever."
Official Narrative Disputed by Local Authorities
The factual discrepancies extended beyond Trump's statements. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a release describing the event as an "act of domestic terrorism." She claimed ICE officers were "stuck in the snow" and were attacked by a woman who attempted to run them over.
This official version was forcefully rejected by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who had viewed the footage. "They are already trying to spin this as an act of self-defence. Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly -- that is bullshit," Mayor Frey said. "This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody getting killed."
Eyewitness video of the incident corroborates local officials' scepticism. It shows an officer firing at least three shots at point-blank range into the driver's side of an SUV as it began to move away from officers. The street was clear of snow, contradicting Noem's claim that vehicles were stuck.
The incident and the conflicting narratives that followed have ignited a fierce political debate, centring on immigration enforcement, accountability, and the spread of misinformation by high-profile figures.
