Donald Trump on Wednesday described the fatal shooting of a Minnesota mother by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer as “sad to see on both sides,” adopting a more restrained stance than earlier statements from his administration and his own social media posts.
Speaking during a wide-ranging interview with Reuters in the Oval Office, Trump called the incident “unfortunate,” signaling a softer tone compared with previous remarks from Vice President JD Vance and comments Trump had posted online shortly after the shooting.
Details of the Incident
The shooting occurred on January 7 in Minneapolis after the administration deployed more than 2,000 federal officers to Minnesota as part of an expanded immigration enforcement effort. An officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Jonathan Ross, fatally shot Renee Good, a U.S. citizen and mother of three.
Video footage reviewed by investigators shows Ross firing the first of three shots as Good’s vehicle began to move past him. Local officials have disputed claims that the shooting was an act of self-defense.
Shift From Earlier Statements
In a post on Truth Social following the incident, Trump had described Good as a “professional agitator” and said the officer appeared to have acted in self-defense. On Wednesday, however, he declined to frame the situation in terms of blame.
“I don’t get into right or wrong,” Trump said. “I know that it was a tough situation to be in. There was very little respect shown to the police, in this case, the ICE officers.”
“It’s so sad to see on both sides,” he added.
When asked whether he would consider pardoning Ross if the officer were charged and convicted, Trump said it was premature to speculate. “We’re going to have to see what happens,” he said, noting that the legal process should be allowed to unfold.
Enforcement Policy Continues
Federal agents are generally shielded from state prosecution for actions taken in the course of their duties, though that protection does not automatically apply if misconduct is found. Investigations into the shooting remain ongoing.
Despite the controversy, Trump said he would continue deploying ICE officers to U.S. cities, arguing the approach is necessary to address crime. The enforcement push has drawn criticism after ICE data showed that many of those arrested during recent operations had no criminal charges or prior convictions.
The Minnesota shooting has intensified debate over the administration’s immigration tactics, even as Trump insists the policy will remain a central part of his domestic agenda.