Trump wants ICE renamed 'NICE' to mess with 'crooked' media: 'They won’t be able to handle it'
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has revived one of his more unconventional ideas yet, suggesting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could be renamed “NICE,” a proposal he says would both elevate the agency’s image and leave hostile media outlets scrambling over their wording.
The remark, shared in a Truth Social post on Saturday, June 20, immediately reignited debate over whether the suggestion is a serious policy proposal, a political message or simply a trolling exercise aimed at Trump’s critics.
POLL: ICE has been abused by the Fake News Media at levels never seen before. They are Great Patriots who work hard, and do a fantastic job in a very hostile environment. Much of this hostility is caused by the Dumocrats and the Fake News. The concept I have had for quite some…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 20, 2026
Trump's 'NICE' pitch grabs attention
In his latest social media post, Trump argued that ICE has been unfairly vilified by what he described as “Fake News Media” despite carrying out what he considers a difficult but necessary mission.
“ICE has been abused by the Fake News Media at levels never seen before,” Trump wrote, praising the agency’s officers as “Great Patriots” who operate in a “very hostile environment.”
He then floated an idea he said he has been considering for some time: adding the word “National” to the agency’s title so that ICE would become “NICE.”
According to Trump, the change would create a communications headache for journalists who frequently criticize the agency.
“The concept I have had for quite some time, A strong feeling that the name of these Patriots, ‘ICE,’ should be changed to, ‘NICE,’ in that it will totally discombobulate Crooked, Dishonest, and Unpatriotic Reporters and Journalists,” he wrote.
Trump went on to imagine media coverage using the revised acronym.
“For them to say, ‘We went to a NICE Facility today,’ as opposed to ‘ICE’ or, ‘NICE Agents have deported a Violent Dealer,’ they won’t be able to handle it, they will go totally crazy!”
The president also claimed the new title would be more prestigious, saying the only adjustment required would be adding an “N” for “National” to the agency’s existing name.
Trump claims agents dislike new name
Interestingly, Trump acknowledged that not everyone appears enthusiastic about the idea.
Referencing border czar Tom Homan, he said he had been informed that ICE personnel themselves may not be nearly as excited about the proposal as some of his supporters.
“Everyone loves it, but I have been told by the legendary Tom Homan that the Agents do not love it as much as the other population,” Trump wrote before asking followers whether the agency should adopt the new name.
While the proposal may sound like a punchline, the idea has been circulating inside Trump-world for months.
The concept first gained traction in late April after a social media user suggested renaming ICE so that news organizations would be forced to repeatedly say “NICE” while covering immigration enforcement activities. Trump amplified the suggestion at the time, posting: “GREAT IDEA!!! DO IT.”
After that, both the White House and the Department of Homeland Security have shared memes and online content embracing the concept, turning what began as an internet joke into a recurring political talking point.
However, any actual name change would face a significant obstacle: it cannot be done by presidential order alone. Because ICE was established by federal law, Congress would need to approve legislation authorizing such a change.
