Vice President J.D. Vance has launched a sharp attack against Democrats, the media, and what he termed a "left-wing network," placing blame for the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by a federal immigration officer. His comments come as demonstrations over the death of 37-year-old Renee Good spread to cities across the United States.
Vance's Unprecedented Blame and Defense of Officer
In an unusual appearance at the White House briefing room and on social media, Vance became the highest-ranking official to publicly assign blame for Good's death, even as the investigation is still ongoing. Good was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer after she attempted to drive away on a snow-covered residential street. Officers were conducting an operation linked to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts.
Vance stated he was not worried about prejudging the investigation, asserting, "What you see is what you get in this case," regarding videos of the Wednesday incident. He claimed he was certain Good accelerated her car into the officer and hit him, though video footage does not clearly show contact. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey countered, saying arguments of self-defense were "garbage."
A "Tragedy of Her Own Making," Says Vice President
The Vice President expressed a complex view of the victim. He said part of him felt "very, very sad" for Good, but he also called her "brainwashed" and "a victim of left-wing ideology."
"I can believe that her death is a tragedy, while also recognising that it's a tragedy of her own making and a tragedy of the far left who has marshaled an entire movement -- a lunatic fringe -- against our law enforcement officers," Vance said, as reported by the Associated Press.
His heated defense aligned with statements from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former President Donald Trump, who claimed Good "viciously run over" the officer—a characterization disputed by video evidence.
Broader Immigration Crackdown and Media Condemnation
This incident occurs within Trump's wider second-term crackdown on crime and immigration in Democratic-led cities. The administration has deployed federal law enforcement and National Guard troops, even floating the use of the Insurrection Act to overcome legal challenges.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking before Vance, rejected claims that deploying ICE officers was inflammatory. She vowed to "redouble our efforts to get the worst of the worst criminal, illegal alien killers, rapists and pedophiles off of American streets," calling Good's killing a result of a "large, sinister left-wing movement."
Vance, known for his verbal sparring, opened his remarks by condemning media coverage. He accused journalists of falsely portraying Good as innocent, raising his voice to declare, "You should be ashamed of yourselves. Every single one of you." He argued such reporting puts law enforcement officers at risk daily.
When asked about his responsibility to defuse national tensions, Vance said it was to "protect the people who are enforcing law and protect the country writ large." He suggested the best way to lower tensions was for people to "take their concerns about immigration policy to the ballot box."
Administration's Response: A New Prosecutor for Minnesota
In response to growing attention on fraud in childcare programmes in Minnesota, Vance announced the administration is deputising a new assistant attorney general to prosecute the abuse of government assistance programmes. This prosecutor will focus primarily on Minnesota and will be nominated in the coming days, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune promising a prompt confirmation.
The fallout from the Minneapolis shooting continues to ripple outward, highlighting deep national divisions over immigration enforcement, media credibility, and the use of federal force in American cities.
