Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel delivered a sharp rebuke of President Donald Trump on Wednesday following a fatal shooting involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The incident, which resulted in the death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, sparked immediate controversy and drew criticism from multiple late-night hosts.
The shooting occurred Wednesday, January 8, 2026, when an ICE agent fired three times into a Honda SUV as Good pulled her car away during an immigration enforcement operation. Video of the shooting quickly went viral, showing the agent shouting for the woman to get out of the car before opening fire.
Trump responded to the incident via Truth Social, claiming the woman was disorderly and resisting, and that she ran over an ICE officer. Trump claimed the shooting was self-defense.
“This maniac,” Kimmel said during his monologue on January 7, 2026. “Now, I saw this video. It didn’t look like anybody got run over to me. It looked to me like a woman got scared, tried to drive away, and they shot her.”
The late-night host displayed a shirt reading “Get the f— out of MPLS” in solidarity with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who had delivered a forceful statement at a news conference. Frey called the self-defense claim “bullshit” and told ICE to get out of Minneapolis. Earlier in his monologue, Kimmel had revealed another custom shirt reading “Donald J. Trump is gonna kill you,” a reference to comments made by Senator Lindsey Graham.
Graham had warned Iran that Trump would kill the ayatollah, prompting Kimmel’s satirical merchandise.
The Trump administration defended the agent’s actions. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the officer followed training. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the woman weaponized her vehicle, attempting to kill officers, and that the agent fired defensive shots. The DHS described the incident as domestic terrorism.
Stephen Colbert also addressed the shooting on “The Late Show,” opening with a somber message rather than his traditional cold open. Colbert criticized the DHS for rushing to judgment in deeming the shooting self-defense.
MSNBC host Chris Hayes, appearing on Colbert’s program, said the shooting “looks like cold-blooded murder” to many who viewed the video.
Good was identified by her mother, Donna Ganger. The victim leaves behind a 6-year-old son. Good was previously married to Timmy Ray Macklin Jr., who died in 2023 at age 36.
Fox News host Jesse Watters drew criticism for his coverage of the incident. Watters said the woman had pronouns in her bio and that she was a poet from Colorado. The Fox News host mocked the victim during his broadcast, sparking backlash from public figures and social media users who called his comments heartless.
The shooting has intensified debates over immigration enforcement tactics and the deployment of federal agents in major cities. The incident occurred during a broader crackdown on immigration enforcement, with ICE conducting operations in multiple cities across the United States.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a component of the Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws. The agency conducts arrests, detentions, and deportations of individuals deemed to be in violation of immigration statutes. ICE agents typically operate in plainclothes during enforcement operations, though they wear identifying gear such as vests.
The use of deadly force by federal agents is governed by strict protocols, which generally require officers to use force only when they reasonably believe there is an imminent threat of death or serious injury. Department policy typically discourages firing at moving vehicles unless deadly force is being used against officers or others through means other than the vehicle itself.
Video evidence has become increasingly central to evaluating officer-involved shootings, with witnesses frequently capturing incidents on smartphones. Such footage often becomes public quickly through social media, shaping public perception before official investigations conclude. In this case, the viral video appears to show the shooting occurring as the vehicle was moving away from officers rather than toward them.
Minneapolis has been at the center of national conversations about law enforcement practices since 2020, when the death of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests. The city’s leadership has frequently clashed with federal authorities over enforcement tactics and jurisdictional questions.
The Trump administration has made immigration enforcement a central priority, significantly expanding ICE operations compared to previous years. This has included deploying agents to cities whose local governments have adopted policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities, often called sanctuary city policies.
Late-night television has historically served as a platform for political commentary, with hosts using their shows to respond to breaking news and controversial government actions. The format allows comedians to blend humor with criticism, often reaching audiences who may not consume traditional news programming. Shows like “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” have become particularly outspoken on political matters in recent years.
The incident remains under investigation, though the divergent narratives from federal officials and local authorities suggest potential conflicts over the facts of the case. The discrepancy between eyewitness accounts, video evidence, and official statements from the Department of Homeland Security will likely be a focal point of any inquiry into the shooting.
Sources:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/jimmy-kimmel-trashes-maniac-donald-trumps-response-to-ice-killing/
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/jimmy-kimmel-trashes-maniac-trump-062752388.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2026/01/08/jimmy-kimmel-stephen-colbert-ice-shooting/88081211007/
https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-host-jesse-watters-slammed-over-hateful-comments-about-mom-renee-good-killed-by-ice-inminneapolis/
https://www.imdb.com/de/news/ni65649758/?ref_=nwc_art_perm
https://www.aol.com/articles/white-house-rips-journalist-over-221200047.html
