Dave Matthews slams ‘dishonest’ Trump aides and ‘ungrateful’ ICE agents: ‘F**k them’

After Renee Nicole Good’s fatal ICE shooting, musician Dave Matthews slammed immigration enforcement and rejected funding ICE
PUBLISHED JAN 11, 2026
Dave Matthews condemned immigration enforcement, saying he doesn’t want his taxes funding ICE and criticized government priorities after Renee Nicole Good’s death (Getty Images)
Dave Matthews condemned immigration enforcement, saying he doesn’t want his taxes funding ICE and criticized government priorities after Renee Nicole Good’s death (Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: Anger over recent immigration enforcement actions prompted strong remarks from musician Dave Matthews, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. His comments followed the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minnesota.

In a video shared on his birthday, Friday, January 9, Matthews voiced his opposition to the use of public funds for such actions. He stated, “I don’t want my taxes to pay for ICE, to masked thugs to roam our streets.”

Dave Matthews of Dave Matthews band performs at Palco Mundo at Cidade do Rock on September 29, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Getty Images)
Dave Matthews of Dave Matthews band performs at Palco Mundo at Cidade do Rock on September 29, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Getty Images)

He also condemned international military involvement and criticized the Donald Trump administration. Matthews specifically took aim at the operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

Dave Matthews condemns ICE actions and Trump admin after Renee Nicole Good’s killing

The musician spoke candidly in a video released on his birthday, in which he condemned immigration enforcement practices and criticized government priorities. He said, “I don’t want my taxes to pay for ICE, to masked thugs to roam our streets and terrorize our communities and rip families apart.”

“We should be taking care of each other. We should be minding each other. We should be housing the homeless. We shouldn’t be, you know, throwing people to the ground,” Matthews added.

His criticism did not stop there. Matthews went on to directly attack President Donald Trump, condemning the Venezuela operation and warning about threats made toward other countries. These included involvement in the war in Gaza and ongoing ICE activities.

Referring to the death of Renee Nicole Good, he said, “Which brings me to Renee Nicole Good, m*rdered in front of her fellow citizens in Minneapolis, m*rdered in the streets, and no matter what narrative this administration is trying to sell us, we can see the videos.”

A notice reading
A notice reading 'RIP Renee, murdered by ICE' is seen next to a memorial for Renee Nicole Good on January 07, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to federal officials, an ICE agent shot and killed Good during a confrontation earlier today in south Minneapolis (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Matthews rejected the Trump administration’s version of events, disputing claims about the 37-year-old woman and stating that Renee was “m*rdered in cold blood.” Reacting emotionally, he added, “It’s mind-boggling, and it’s deeply upsetting to me and to so many people, and we can’t just let it slide.”

He then named several officials while condemning the administration’s leadership. “To Trump, to Kristi Noem, to Stephen Miller, to Pete Hegseth, to (Kash) Patel to (Pam) Bondi to all of them, just deeply, deeply dishonest people. Just cowardly, shameful, dishonest people,” he continued. “F**k them. They are revolting.”

The musician said he was “deeply ashamed of this government, the way they’re treating our neighbors, outside and inside this country.” Ending his remarks with unfiltered language, Matthews said, “F*** ICE. Yeah. If that language offends you... Come on.”

“We all heard it before. I hope you know where my heart is,” Matthews said. “I don’t like these monsters that are running the show right now. They are ungrateful, greedy monsters. I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit.”

Renee Nicole Good’s killing sparks outrage and conflicting claims

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with oil and gas executives in the East Room of the White House on January 9, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump is holding the meeting to discuss plans for investment in Venezuela after ousting its leader Nicolás Maduro. ( Alex Wong/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with oil and gas executives in the East Room of the White House on January 9, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump is holding the meeting to discuss plans for investment in Venezuela after ousting its leader Nicolas Maduro (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Renee Nicole Good’s death has sent shockwaves through the public. Videos from the scene show her surrounded by immigration officers as her car partially blocked a roadway. In one alleged phone recording from the shooter’s point of view, Jonathan Ross is seen speaking with Good. 

She calmly tells him, “It’s fine, dude, I’m not mad at you.” Moments later, shots are fired. In the same video, a voice is heard saying “f***** b****.”

The Trump administration has described the killing as self-defense. Kristi Noem accused Good of using her car as a weapon and committing “an act of domestic terrorism.” JD Vance went further, calling her “a deranged leftist.”

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