On Sunday, January 11, 2026, during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, host Jake Tapper pressed Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, on the application of standards for assaults on law enforcement officers. The exchange occurred in the context of ongoing controversy surrounding the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026, where Noem had quickly described Good’s actions as domestic terrorism and defended the agent’s response.
Tapper referenced video footage of individuals physically attacking law enforcement officers and asked: “Those are law enforcement officers being physically attacked. By this standard, would any of those officers been justified in shooting and killing the people causing them physical harm?”
Noem responded that every situation depends on the specific circumstances faced by officers. She stated that officers have authority to arrest individuals who put hands on them, use weapons against them, or physically harm them, ensuring those individuals face consequences and justice for their actions.
Tapper interjected that President Trump had pardoned every single one of those people.
Noem continued, emphasizing that investigations must consider the full context on the ground. She highlighted President Trump’s focus on enforcing laws equally without picking and choosing which situations or laws to apply. She added that the clarity of the law stands, and if people disagree, members of Congress and elected officials should work to change the law through debate and policy.
Tapper pointed out that he had shown undisputed video evidence of people attacking law enforcement officers, yet President Trump pardoned all of them. He stated this demonstrated a different standard for assaults on law enforcement when committed by Trump supporters, contradicting Noem’s claim of equal enforcement.
Noem reiterated that each instance and investigation must be evaluated in the full context of the situation on the ground. She described the Department of Homeland Security’s current efforts as targeting the worst offenders, speaking factually about each case, bringing perpetrators of violence to justice, and ensuring they face consequences for their crimes.
Noem concluded by expressing a desire for partnership with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, the city’s chief of police, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. She said the department would appreciate their cooperation in toning down rhetoric and doing the right thing for the people of Minnesota.
This segment of the interview built on earlier discussions about the Minneapolis incident, where Noem defended her rapid statements and the agent’s actions, amid widespread protests and disputes over the federal narrative versus local accounts and video evidence. The reference to pardons appears to allude to President Trump’s mass clemency granted in early 2025 to individuals convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol events, many of whom faced charges including assaulting law enforcement. The exchange underscored tensions between federal enforcement priorities under the Trump administration and criticisms of perceived inconsistencies in handling violence against officers. An investigation into the Minneapolis shooting continues to be led by federal authorities.
