Karoline Leavitt blasts ‘violent’ Minneapolis protesters over Renee Nicole Good shooting

WASHINGTON, DC: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized protests in Minneapolis following the ICE-involved shooting death of Renee Nicole Good. She questioned why demonstrators were protesting and defended ICE’s actions and the officer involved, describing the shooting as an act of self-defense.

For context, protesters filled the streets of Minneapolis after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good during a federal enforcement operation in the city. Leavitt also suggested that protesters opposed the removal of violent criminals.

Karoline Leavitt calls out Minnesota protesters

Leavitt asked, “It’s striking that all weekend you had agitators and violent citizens in the streets of Minneapolis protesting, protesting what, exactly?”

She went on to claim that demonstrators were opposing the removal of violent criminals from the city. 

She argued, “I can guarantee you, when you look at the list of the illegal criminals that ICE is removing from our communities every day, not a single person in those protests, and not a single person standing here that works in the mainstream media in Washington, DC, would want those individuals in your neighborhood, in your community, around your children and around your families.”

Leavitt then insisted, “ICE is doing an incredibly important job that’s not just important to our homeland security, but our national security, and this administration will continue to stand wholeheartedly by the brave men and women of ICE, including the officer in Minneapolis who was absolutely justified in using self-defense against a lunatic who was part of a group, an organized group, to interject and to impede on law enforcement operations.”

She added that reactions from the left were “disgusting” and, in her view, showed that today’s Democratic Party places protecting illegal alien criminals above law-abiding Americans and law enforcement. 

Trump backs ICE officer, White House says shooting was justified

After meeting with reporters, Karoline Leavitt appeared on Fox News, where anchor John Roberts asked whether President Donald Trump believes the ICE officer’s actions were justified. Leavitt replied, “Absolutely, And I think the more evidence that comes out shows the officer was justified, and President Trump was right about this all along.”

She said Minneapolis is not the only place where what she described as “organized paid antagonists” have interfered with law enforcement, alleging that demonstrators are harassing and targeting ICE agents to make it difficult for them to do their jobs.

“They are harassing and targeting ICE agents, trying to make it impossible again for them to carry out their duties. That's what was happening in this case.”

Leavitt went on to defend the ICE agent who fatally shot Renee Good, calling him experienced and brave. She said, “That officer used his training. I understand that he's been on the force and he's protecting American communities for many, many years. He's an experienced and brave individual who unfortunately had to make a very tough decision and was put in that position by these paid agitators who have been doing this all over the country.”