Stephen Colbert says Trump admin's ICE shooting narrative is a warning for America: 'Obey or die'

Stephen Colbert warned of a government‑sanctioned violence trend, saying nine ICE shootings since September showed a pattern, not isolated incidents
Stephen Colbert said the Trump admin defended the ICE agent despite video evidence allegedly showing Renee Nicole Good turning away her car from him (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert/YouTube)
Stephen Colbert said the Trump admin defended the ICE agent despite video evidence allegedly showing Renee Nicole Good turning away her car from him (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert/YouTube)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ host Stephen Colbert chimed in on the recent Minneapolis shooting during an episode of his show on Thursday, January 8, as part of his opening monologue.

During the monologue, the talk show host criticized the Trump administration’s stance on the shooting as they defended the ICE agent who shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, claiming that she had attempted to run the officer over with her car, which had caused the ICE agent to open fire in self-defense.

Colbert alleged that the administration’s message was clear: They wanted citizens to “obey or die.”

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 06:  Stephen Colbert arrives for the Showtime Golden Globe Nominees Celebr
Stephen Colbert arrives for the Showtime Golden Globe Nominees Celebration at Sunset Tower on January 6, 2018, in Los Angeles, California (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Stephen Colbert slams Trump administration for the Minneapolis shooting

During his opening monologue on Thursday’s episode of ‘The Late Show’, Stephen Colbert chimed in on the video circulating online of Renee Nicole Good being fatally shot by an ICE agent.

Colbert didn’t play the video of the shooting but stated that in the video previously shared by The New York Times, Good appeared to be turning away from the officer.

He also stated that The Washington Post reported that the ICE agent was able to move out of the way and fire two shots from the side of the vehicle.

“It sure looks like a federal agent gunned down an American citizen without cause in front of witnesses on a city street,” Colbert said. 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 08: U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem takes questions during a press conference at One World Trade Center on January 08, 2026 in New York City. Following yesterday's fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE agent during a confrontation in Minneapolis, Noem addressed the Trump administration's ongoing immigration enforcement efforts in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem takes questions during a press conference at One World Trade Center on January 08, 2026, in New York City (Michael M Santiago/Getty Images)

The talk show further commented on the Trump administration’s response to the shooting, as they had previously said that the ICE agent had acted in self-defense.

He said that the administration was telling people that they didn’t see a federal agent shoot a woman in cold blood but that they saw him respond to an “act of domestic t*******m.”

“They’re telling you to believe them and not your eyes,” he added. 

Stephen Colbert calls for citizens to stand against government-sanctioned violence

Stephen Colbert argued that the recent Minneapolis shooting was the 9th ICE shooting since September, as per the New York Times. He added that it was less of an anomaly and more of a trend.

President Donald Trump addresses a House Republican retreat at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on January 06, 2026 in Washington, DC. House Republicans will discuss their 2026 legislative agenda at the meeting. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump addresses a House Republican retreat at The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on January 06, 2026, in Washington, DC (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

As he quoted a CBS News article, he added that not only was the Trump administration trying to spin the narrative of the shooting, but they were also trying to withhold evidence.

The new article claimed that the Minnesota investigators alleged that the FBI had blocked them from accessing evidence related to Renee Good’s shooting.

"This should be an alarm bell for the entire country,” Colbert warned his viewers.

He added that, despite which state people lived in, they could not let such behavior continue. The talk show host also argued that, regardless of which party people voted for, one day, they could have “unaccountable armed government agents acting with impunity in your town.”

“So peacefully, and non-violently, please let your leaders know you don’t want that,” Stephen Colbert said. 

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

MORE STORIES

Pelley says he took on CBS bosses to protect colleagues with less seniority
13 hours ago
Scott Pelley received thousands of supportive messages after publicly challenging CBS leadership's account of his departure
1 day ago
Tucker Carlson's remarks drew attention amid his split with Trump, whom he had criticized over Iran and accused of being overly influenced by Israel
1 day ago
Chris Hayes airs White House clip while mocking Trump’s latest nodding-off moment
1 day ago
Mike Pence highlighted what he saw as key Trump administration achievements, including border security, tax cuts and support for Israel
1 day ago
The blunt remarks came as the daytime panel discussed patriotism, President Donald Trump, and how Americans should feel heading into the country’s 250th anniversary
2 days ago
Bill Maher joked that he considers it 'an honor' to be featured in Donald Trump’s posts, even when they are negative
2 days ago
Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim chose to stay, telling colleagues that the program's future remained worth fighting for
2 days ago
Megyn Kelly said Scott Pelley's 'narcissism and closed-mindedness on the air entitled him to a firing long, long ago'
3 days ago
Bobby Allyn said George Santos's remark seemed bizarre rather than threatening, while Santos denied saying 'gun in your face' and disputed the account
3 days ago