Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are facing backlash for their response in the wake of a fatal ICE shooting on Wednesday.
“To ICE, get the f–k out of Minneapolis,” Frey said during a press conference. “We do not want you here.”
Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot by ICE agents Wednesday morning during a confrontation in Minneapolis. Video of the incident shows the deceased accelerating her car while an ICE agent is standing in front of it. The individual appeared to refuse orders to get out of the way and exit her car earlier in the interaction.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who’s running for governor of South Carolina, responded to the video of Frey, saying, “Arrest the mayor.”
Frey, in the same press conference, said that ICE agents “are not here to cause safety in this city.” He also said that the claim of self-defense is “bulls–t.”
The incident comes amid escalating tensions between ICE agents and protesters in Minneapolis and the surrounding areas. A Cuban national was just charged this week for driving his vehicle into an ICE officer in December in St. Paul.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said that the Democrats’ response to the shooting continues “to lend aid and comfort to domestic terrorism,” as U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., called for ICE to “leave now.”
“We’ve hit a breaking point in this country when an ICE officer is rammed by a lunatic in an SUV and the Mayor of Minneapolis responds not with condemnation, but by telling federal law enforcement to ‘get the f*ck out!’” said U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, a candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas.
We’ve hit a breaking point in this country when an ICE officer is rammed by a lunatic in an SUV and the Mayor of Minneapolis responds not with condemnation, but by telling federal law enforcement to “get the f*ck out!”pic.twitter.com/m9iumdX7q7
— Wesley Hunt (@WesleyHuntTX) January 7, 2026
The official White House rapid response X account also responded to Frey’s statements, saying, “This scumbag should be ashamed of himself.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says the heroes of ICE, who have removed droves of hardened criminals off Minneapolis streets, "are not here to cause safety in this city."
This scumbag should be ashamed of himself. pic.twitter.com/WiTgRpOr5L
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 7, 2026
“Minnesota is lost. Entire state is broken,” Clay Buck, a radio show host, wrote in an X post. His co-host, Buck Sexton, also reacted, saying that Frey is worse than socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, calling Frey the “worst, most insane mayor in America.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., told Frey to stop demonizing law enforcement. “Stop demonizing federal and local law enforcement for doing their jobs because YOU have failed to do yours,” he wrote.
The presence of VIOLENT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS and RIOTERS is the driving force behind the chaos, not the ICE agents.
Stop demonizing federal and local law enforcement for doing their jobs because YOU have failed to do yours. https://t.co/Au0kbNozOA
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) January 7, 2026
Gov. Walz also is facing backlash for his response to the shooting and calling the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) defense of the ICE officer “propaganda.”
“I’ve seen the video,” Walz wrote. Commentator Megyn Kelly said that Walz’s post was “irresponsible” and that as the sitting governor he should have waited to respond.
“Wait. Wait until we’ve seen and know more. How dare you – as the sitting governor! – further inflame an already charged situation by declaring the officer’s defense ‘propaganda?’ Shameful,” Kelly said.
This is so irresponsible. Wait. Wait until we’ve seen and know more. How dare you – as the sitting governor! – further inflame an already charged situation by declaring the officer’s defense “propaganda?” Shameful. https://t.co/v0t0akeOSP
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) January 7, 2026
During a press conference later in the day, Walz suggested that Minnesota is “at war with our federal government” and that the Minnesota National Guard will be used against “rogue” federal agents.
Gov. Walz suggests Minnesota is "at war with our federal government" and that the Minnesota National Guard will be used against "rogue federal agents." pic.twitter.com/xWNaJpxSdq
— Alpha News (@AlphaNews) January 7, 2026
ICE has been conducting increased operations in Minnesota for the last month and currently is participating in “the largest DHS operation ever” in the state.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
