Border czar Tom Homan erupts at anti-ICE protester during fiery speech: 'Get out of here, you loser'

At TPUSA’s Tampa summit, border czar Tom Homan erupted at a heckler and vowed the largest deportation operation in US history
Tom Homan slammed a heckler during his TPUSA speech, vowing a historic deportation push as protests erupt nationwide (X/TPUSA.com )
Tom Homan slammed a heckler during his TPUSA speech, vowing a historic deportation push as protests erupt nationwide (X/TPUSA.com )


 

TAMPA, FLORIDA: Donald Trump administration border czar Tom Homan delivered a fiery and defiant speech Saturday night, July 12, at Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit, promising what he called the “biggest deportation operation this country has ever seen.”

His remarks, made in response to a heckler and set against the backdrop of growing anti-ICE protests nationwide, drew loud chants of “U-S-A” from the crowd and have since gone viral.

Trump administration
Trump administration border czar Tom Homan talks with reporters outside the White House on July 10, 2025, in Washington, DC. Homan answered a range of questions related to border security and immigration enforcement actions (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Heckler disrupts Tom Homan’s speech, triggering fierce defense of ICE and vows of mass deportations

About five minutes into his address, Tom Homan was interrupted by a heckler who shouted, “Are you an MS-13 member?”, a reference to the violent criminal gang targeted by Trump-era deportation policies.

Heckler interrupts Tom Homan mid-speech with MS-13 jab, triggering fiery comeback and crowd eruption at TPUSA summit (screenshot / TPUSA.com)
Heckler interrupts Tom Homan mid-speech with MS-13 jab, triggering fiery comeback and crowd eruption at TPUSA summit (screenshot/TPUSA.com)

Security quickly escorted the protester out of the venue, prompting Homan to intensify his tone.



 

“This guy wouldn’t know what it’s like to serve this nation. This guy ain’t got the balls to be an ICE officer. He hasn’t got the balls to be a border patrol agent,” Homan said to cheers. “This guy lives in his mother’s basement. The only thing that surprised me is [he] doesn’t have purple hair and a nose ring. Get out of here, you loser.”

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 6: White House Border Czar Tom Homan speaks on FOX News on the North Lawn of the White House on February 6, 2025 in Washington, DC. Homan has been appointed by President Donald Trump to oversee what the White House calls the largest
White House border czar Tom Homan has been appointed by President Donald Trump to oversee what the White House calls the largest 'mass deportations' of undocumented immigrants in American history (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

He closed his remarks with a dramatic pledge: “Tom Homan is going to run the biggest deportation operation this country has ever seen. Take it to the bank.”

Tom Homan fires back at anti-ICE protesters during fiery TPUSA speech in Tampa

Tom Homan used his platform to launch a broader rebuke of anti-ICE demonstrators, many of whom had gathered outside the Tampa summit with signs denouncing federal immigration enforcement.

“You want some? Come get some,” Homan declared. “I’m tired of it. For the men and women of ICE, I deserve your respect. They’re the finest 1% this country has. And Tom Homan isn’t going anywhere. Tom Homan isn’t shutting up.”

Although Homan said he hadn’t personally seen protesters upon arriving at the venue, demonstrations did take place outside the event on July 12.



 

Protesters carried signs such as “ICE kills farmers” and waved banners rejecting the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Nationwide protests after Donald Trump signs immigration reform bill

The Tampa protests were the latest in a series of escalating demonstrations following President Donald Trump’s signing of what he called a “big, beautiful bill” last week, a sweeping immigration reform package.

In recent days, federal officers have been ambushed in Texas, and clashes have erupted between protesters and law enforcement at ICE facilities in Portland, Oregon.

In Oxnard and Camarillo, California, protesters squared off against National Guard troops during immigration raids at local farms. Meanwhile, rallies continued in Manhattan and Los Angeles, where recent demonstrations have turned violent.

Attendees at Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit chant “ICE! ICE! ICE!” to drown out anti-ICE protesters in Tampa ( X / Paul A. Szypula )
Attendees at Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit chant 'ICE! ICE! ICE!' to drown out anti-ICE protesters in Tampa ( X/Paul A Szypula )

One protester outside 26 Federal Plaza in New York held a sign condemning ICE’s role in deportations, part of a growing movement accusing the agency of human rights abuses and racial targeting.

Tom Homan defends ICE, praises Donald Trump's border policy 

Unapologetic in both tone and message, Tom Homan expressed pride in the role ICE and Border Patrol agents have played in enforcing immigration law under Donald Trump. He criticized what he described as growing public hostility toward law enforcement and praised the former president’s immigration record.

“I have never seen such hate against the men and women of ICE and in the Border Patrol,” Homan said. 

President Donald Trump shakes hands with his Border Czar Tom Homan during a
President Donald Trump shakes hands with his border czar Tom Homan during a 'One, Big, Beautiful' event in the East Room of the White House on June 26, 2025, in Washington, DC. Trump held an event to urge the passage of the 'One, Big, Beautiful Bill,' Trump's signature tax-and-spending agenda (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“Under his leadership, we got the most secure border in the history of the nation, and we did that in seven weeks. President Trump did in seven weeks what Joe Biden couldn’t or wouldn’t do in four years.”

Acknowledging that some might take offense at his blunt remarks, Homan told the audience at the outset: “Sometimes, I’m harsh. But if I offend anybody here tonight, I don’t give a s**t.”

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

The Trump administration has pressured school districts to end trans-inclusive policies, threatening to withdraw federal education funding
4 hours ago
A White House official said Max Miller appeared determined to stay in the race after comparing his situation to past allegations against Donald Trump
5 hours ago
Newly released texts show Anthony Fauci discussed first-trimester concerns with Rochelle Walensky and Vivek Murthy in January 2021
7 hours ago
The older Air Force One, carrying journalists and some White House staff who believed Trump was aboard, served as a decoy
7 hours ago
Karoline Leavitt accused Democrats of backing 'terrible policies' and claimed the party is divided over its progressive direction ahead of November
8 hours ago
Trump falsely linked vaccines to autism, suggesting that the rise in childhood vaccinations had contributed to an increase in autism diagnoses
9 hours ago
'What struck me was that Donald Trump is about to become what he never, ever wanted to be', Chris Christie said
14 hours ago
In December, Trump added gold cursive 'Oval Office' letters to the White House as part of a broader gilded makeover with 24-karat gold accents
15 hours ago
Independent journalist Aaron Rupar later dubbed the attempt 'the worst Lindsey Graham impression of all time'
16 hours ago
BBC was due to receive President Trump's business documents on August 6, but a federal court paused the handover after his lawyers objected
17 hours ago