Former US President Donald Trump has disseminated a series of wild and factually inaccurate statements regarding a fatal shooting involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota, in what appears to be an effort to divert attention from the troubling incident. The event has sparked widespread outrage and intensified protests against aggressive immigration enforcement in the state.
Details of the Shooting Incident
Video evidence from the shooting in South Minneapolis depicts at least five ICE agents wrestling a 37-year-old man to the ground before ten gunshots are heard. Prior to the shooting, one officer is seen repeatedly striking the man in the head with an object believed to be a pepper spray canister. After the initial shot, agents retreated, with at least two officers visibly drawing their firearms. The footage concludes with ICE agents walking away as the victim lies motionless on the pavement. Minneapolis Police later confirmed the man died an hour after the incident.
The Department for Homeland Security (DHS) asserted that the individual was "armed" and "violently" resisted disarmament attempts. However, subsequent video clips contradict this narrative. One clip shows the victim holding a phone and filming officers moments before being shot, with no weapon visible, while another angle reveals he was neither brandishing a weapon nor resisting violently. He appears to be intervening to assist another protester who had been shoved to the ground by an ICE officer, with a second officer firing pepper spray directly into his face at point-blank range before he was subdued.
Political and Public Reaction
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz expressed profound dismay, tweeting: "I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning. Minnesota has had it. This is sickening. The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now."
In the aftermath, ICE agents reportedly attempted to instruct local police to vacate the scene, but Police Chief O'Hara refused, directing his officers to preserve the area for investigation. A scheduled press conference by Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino was abruptly cancelled after journalists inquired about whether the victim was armed during the shooting. Bovino stated the matter was under investigation, with details to follow.
Trump's Misleading Social Media Posts
Donald Trump later posted an image of a firearm on Truth Social, which DHS claimed belonged to the victim, alleging it was "loaded" and "ready to go." He questioned, "what is all that about?" Despite Minnesota being an "open carry" state where licensed citizens may legally carry firearms, Police Chief O'Hara confirmed the victim held a valid permit. Crucially, video evidence from all available angles indicates he was not holding a weapon before or after being wrestled to the ground.
Trump's post extended into a lengthy diatribe, falsely claiming that Minnesota police were not "allowed to protect ICE officers" and that ICE had to "protect themselves." He further made unsubstantiated allegations against Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, insinuating that protests against ICE operations were a "cover up" for fraudulent activities within the state.
Broader Context of Protests and Previous Incident
This shooting occurs merely two weeks after the killing of Renee Good, an unarmed US citizen in Minneapolis. Good was peacefully protesting ICE raids when agents fired shots into her car, resulting in fatal injuries. Her death has ignited fury nationwide, with an FBI agent reportedly resigning due to pressure to alter the investigation's approach.
Protests have escalated, with approximately 100 clergy members arrested at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for demonstrating against deportation flights, receiving misdemeanour citations for trespassing and non-compliance. Despite Arctic temperatures, several thousand gathered in downtown Minneapolis to oppose the Trump administration's crackdown. Over 700 businesses across Minnesota have closed in solidarity, reflecting a broad coalition involving labour unions, progressive groups, and faith leaders.
Legal and Humanitarian Concerns
Separate incidents have raised additional concerns. A two-year-old child was reunited with her mother after being detained with her father, despite a federal judge's order prohibiting her transfer out of state. In another case, DHS accused a father of abandoning his five-year-old son during an arrest, though the family's attorney disputes this, suggesting the mother refused to open the door out of fear. Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino attempted to redirect media focus by highlighting crimes involving undocumented individuals, rather than addressing these detentions.
As investigations continue and protests persist, the situation in Minnesota remains volatile, with Trump's misleading claims adding fuel to an already incendiary climate surrounding immigration enforcement and civil liberties.
