Some officials in the Trump administration are reportedly worried about the speed with which government figures labeled the ICE-involved shooting death of Minnesota resident Renee Good as “domestic terrorism.”
Good, a mother in Minnesota, was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, who fired three rounds after she reportedly refused to exit her van. Ross captured the incident on his own phone, according to reports.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem immediately described the incident as “domestic terrorism,” saying Good attempted to “ram them with her vehicle.” Vice President J.D. Vance and President Donald Trump echoed Noem’s characterization, with Vance accusing the media of misrepresenting the event.
Politico reported Friday that “even supporters of the president” are concerned that the administration’s aggressive approach could undermine public confidence in the ongoing investigation.
One individual close to the administration said, “Do I think it’s domestic terrorism? Yeah, I do. But it might not have been wise to say that at the outset, how Noem said it.”
Another official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the situation could worsen political divisions. “I don’t know how we recover from this,” the official said. “This is highly problematic and not a good look and not something our government should be remotely engaged in.”
Videos of the incident have circulated widely on social media, with commentators noting differing interpretations along partisan lines. On Friday, Vance shared a video from a new angle, which he said supported the agent’s claim of self-defense. Critics noted Good’s words and demeanor — including her statement, “That’s fine, dude. I’m not mad at you” — as she appears to turn the steering wheel away from the agent.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the original characterization, “If you weaponize a vehicle, a deadly weapon to kill or cause bodily harm to a federal law enforcement officer, that is an act of domestic terrorism and will be prosecuted as such.”
President Trump said Friday that he supported the FBI’s decision to block state officials from investigating the incident, criticizing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) as “a stupid person.”
The case has drawn widespread attention amid ongoing debates over federal law enforcement authority, use-of-force protocols, and the definition of domestic terrorism in the United States.
