California Gov. Gavin Newsom sharply criticized Vice President JD Vance for his portrayal of events in Minneapolis following the deadly federal immigration enforcement operation, calling Vance’s framing of the situation so extreme that “only a true psychopath” could believe it justifies the shooting of an innocent U.S. nurse.
Only a true psychopath could genuinely believe this story justifies the shooting of an innocent VA nurse. https://t.co/ey3s1z5DWL
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 26, 2026
Newsom’s comments came in response to Vance’s recent public account of unrest in Minneapolis, where he claimed that off‑duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers were doxed, trapped in a restaurant by protesters, and denied help from local police — a narrative Vance used to argue that local authorities were responsible for chaos and non‑cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Vance’s statement was part of a broader defense of federal agents and criticism of local leadership in Minneapolis amid ongoing tension over ICE operations there. He has portrayed the unrest as the result of state and local resistance to federal enforcement, suggesting that officials in Minneapolis and Minnesota have intentionally hampered cooperation and allowed chaos to unfold.
When I was in Minneapolis, I heard a number of crazy stories. But near the top of the list:
— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 25, 2026
A couple of off duty ICE and CBP officers were going to dinner in Minneapolis. They were doxed and their location revealed, and the restaurant was then mobbed. The officers were locked in…
The backdrop to this controversy is the recent fatal shootings involving federal agents during Operation Metro Surge, a large‑scale immigration enforcement effort in Minneapolis that has drawn intense national scrutiny and sparked protests. The operation and subsequent deaths — including that of a U.S. citizen whose killing has been widely condemned — have heightened political and public tensions between federal officials and local leaders.
Newsom’s stance amplifies broader Democratic criticism that federal responses have been heavy‑handed and disconnected from on‑the‑ground realities, especially in communities where evidence and eyewitness accounts conflict with federal descriptions. Critics argue that video evidence and independent reporting have raised serious questions about federal claims in multiple shooting incidents and have cast doubt on narratives used by administration officials.
Pink lady POV footage of the #Minnesota #ICE killing today. Agent in gray coat and cap seen as he removes the handgun from victim back waistband/holder and agent next to him shoots 1st shots AFTER gun removed before his eyes! #Mineappolis pic.twitter.com/pb3F79xs2i
— Alexandru Alexe 🇷🇴🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@Attrexx) January 24, 2026
The exchange between Newsom and Vance highlights the deep partisan and regional divides over immigration enforcement, federal authority, and public safety, with each side pointing to starkly different interpretations of events in Minneapolis. How these competing narratives influence public opinion and political dynamics remains a central question as the situation continues to unfold.
