Stephen King likens ICE to Nazi Germany’s Gestapo as celebrity criticism grows

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Author Stephen King ignited fresh controversy on Friday, Jan 23, after comparing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to Nazi Germany’s notorious secret police, adding his voice to a growing chorus of celebrities condemning federal immigration enforcement.

King, who commands nearly seven million followers on X, made the blunt comparison in a short but explosive post. “ICE is the American Gestapo,” the author wrote.

The remark quickly spread across social media, drawing both praise and condemnation as debates over immigration enforcement, civil liberties, and federal authority continue to intensify nationwide.

Stephen King invokes Nazi Germany in critique of ICE

King’s comparison drew on the historical legacy of the Gestapo, or “Secret State Police,” which was established in 1933 under Adolf Hitler’s regime. 

The agency was infamous for enforcing Nazi laws through mass arrests, targeting political opponents, and operating without due process.

The author, best known for works such as 'The Shining and Carrie', has long been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump and his administration.

In the past, King has said future history books would portray Trump negatively and suggested that Trump’s supporters would eventually distance themselves from him.

Bruce Springsteen and Tim Walz echo Gestapo comparisons

King was not alone in invoking Nazi-era imagery. While performing in New Jersey, rock legend Bruce Springsteen delivered a fiery onstage rebuke of  ICE and the Trump administration, urging immigration officers to leave Minneapolis.

“If you believe in democracy, in liberty, if you believe that truth still matters, that it’s worth speaking out, that it is worth fighting for… if you stand against heavily armed masked federal troops invading American cities and using Gestapo tactics against our fellow citizens, then send a message to this president,” Springsteen told the crowd, according to NJArts.net.

Minnesota Gov Tim Walz also employed similar language during a commencement address at the University of Minnesota Law School.

“Donald Trump’s modern-day Gestapo is scooping folks up off the streets,” Walz said.

Celebrity protests grow after Minneapolis shooting

The backlash against ICE has intensified following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis earlier this month. Good was shot during an encounter with an ICE officer after she allegedly swerved her car toward him.

In the days that followed, protests erupted in Minneapolis and spread to cities across the country. Local officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, publicly criticized the actions of the ICE officer involved in the shooting.

The Department of Homeland Security, however, defended the agent’s actions, saying he acted in self-defense and describing Good’s behavior as “an act of domestic terrorism.”

Stars wear ‘ICE Out’ and ‘Be Good’ pins at major events

In response to the shooting and the broader immigration crackdown, several high-profile celebrities voiced opposition to ICE. Actors and entertainers including Mark Ruffalo, Wanda Sykes, Jean Smart, Ariana Grande, Natasha Lyonne, and others were seen wearing pins reading “Be Good” and “ICE Out.”

The pins appeared not only at public demonstrations but also at high-profile events such as the Golden Globe Awards, signaling how deeply the issue has permeated Hollywood and pop culture.

For many of the artists speaking out, the protests are framed as a defense of civil liberties and the right to protest without fear of violence.