White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sharply criticized a reporter during a Thursday briefing after being asked to reconcile her defense of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent earlier this month.
During the exchange, a reporter noted that at least 32 people died in ICE custody last year and that Good, a 37‑year‑old citizen, was shot in the head and killed by a federal agent during an immigration enforcement action in Minneapolis. The reporter asked how those facts aligned with Leavitt’s earlier statements defending ICE’s conduct.
Leavitt responded by questioning the premise of the inquiry and launching into a broader critique of the reporter and the media. In the exchange, she called the questioner “a left‑wing hack” and said he was “not a reporter” due to perceived bias in framing the issue. She urged journalists to focus on other violent incidents involving undocumented immigrants and suggested the media overlook fatal crimes allegedly committed by non‑citizens.
The confrontation occurred in the context of heightened national attention on federal immigration enforcement and its consequences. Good was killed on January 7 during a targeted operation in Minneapolis, one of the largest immigration crackdowns in recent U.S. history, involving thousands of federal agents deployed to the Twin Cities. Federal authorities have described the shooting as an act of self‑defense, although local officials and community members have disputed that account.
In recent days, protests have intensified in Minneapolis and elsewhere, with demonstrators clashing with law enforcement and demanding accountability for Good’s death. A separate incident this week saw another person shot by a federal agent during an enforcement action, further fuelling tensions.
Leavitt’s remarks echo other statements from the White House and senior officials defending ICE’s role in immigration enforcement. Earlier this week, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other administration figures described the efforts as lawful and necessary to curb illegal activity, even as civil liberties advocates and some local officials criticize the approach.
