At a Glance
- President Trump acknowledged federal immigration agents sometimes use excessive force during enforcement actions
- He specifically addressed the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by ICE officer Jonathan Ross on January 7
- Trump said he felt “terribly” about the incident but also blamed Good for the confrontation
- Why it matters: The president’s comments highlight growing tensions between immigration enforcement tactics and public safety concerns
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that federal agents “make mistakes sometimes” in enforcing his immigration crackdown, following weeks of violent confrontations including the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.
Trump Acknowledges ICE Missteps
“ICE is going to be too rough with somebody, or, you know, they’re dealing with rough people,” Trump said of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during a lengthy White House press room briefing marking his first year in office.
“They’re going to make some mistakes sometimes,” he said. “It can happen. We feel terribly.”
The president’s rare press briefing appearance came exactly one year after his inauguration. He expressed frustration that Americans have focused more on clashes between immigration agents and the public than on allegations of fraud within Minnesota’s Somali-American community.
Fatal Shooting Details
Trump specifically addressed Good’s death, who was shot by ICE officer Jonathan Ross on January 7 after agents approached her stopped vehicle.
“I felt horribly when I was told that the young woman, who was – had the tragedy,” he said, adding that he heard her father was a Trump supporter. “It’s a tragedy. It’s a horrible thing. Everybody would say it. ICE would say the same thing.”
However, Trump offered conflicting accounts of the incident. In an interview with The New York Times hours after the shooting, he appeared to blame Good for her death.
“She behaved horribly,” Trump told the Times. “And then she ran him over. She didn’t try to run him over. She ran him over.”
His social media post after the shooting claimed Good “violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer.”
Videos from the scene contradict Trump’s version of events, according to News Of Los Angeles‘s reporting.
Immigration Enforcement Concerns
On his Truth Social platform Tuesday, Trump lamented that the Department of Homeland Security and ICE weren’t receiving adequate support. He said they needed to highlight more “murderers and other criminals that they are capturing.”
The president began his briefing room appearance by noting he believes he’s not receiving sufficient credit for economic achievements. Polls show the American public has lost confidence in his economic leadership.
“Maybe I have bad public relations people,” he said from the lectern normally used by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. “I think we’re doing a much better job than we’re able to promote. We’re not promoting. … It’s one of the reasons I’m doing this news conference.”
Economic Messaging Challenges
Trump listed economic data points to argue Americans are prospering under his leadership. He said he doesn’t believe he’s repeating President Joe Biden’s error of touting economic accomplishments when voters felt squeezed by prices.
“No, I hope I don’t make the same mistakes as him,” Trump said.
Foreign Policy Focus
The president spoke extensively about foreign policy, describing his vision for reshaping global affairs. He again expressed disappointment at not receiving a Nobel Peace Prize for work completed during his first year back in office.
Trump claimed he should have received the prize for “each war” he’s ended, stating he’s ended eight wars.
When asked how winning the Nobel Peace Prize would help “everyday Americans,” Trump acknowledged it wouldn’t.
“What improved the lives of people, are people that are living. I saved probably tens of millions of lives in the wars,” he claimed.
Greenland and NATO Tensions
Trump maintained pressure on European allies who oppose his plan to acquire Greenland from Denmark, either through purchase or force. When asked how far he would go to take the island, he replied: “You’ll find out.”
He incorrectly blamed Norway for the Nobel Peace Prize snub, contending the government in Oslo bestows the award.
“I lost a lot of respect for Norway,” he said. “I believe very strongly, that Norway controls the Nobel Prize.”
Despite tensions, Trump offered both an olive branch and warning to European officials, affirming his intention to protect NATO allies from external threats.
“The big fear I have with NATO is we spend tremendous amounts of money with NATO, and I know we’ll come to their rescue, but I just really do question whether or not they’ll come to ours,” he said.
Key Takeaways
- Trump acknowledged ICE agents sometimes use excessive force during immigration enforcement
- He expressed mixed feelings about Renee Nicole Good’s fatal shooting, calling it a tragedy while also blaming her
- The president remains focused on economic messaging despite polling challenges
- Foreign policy dominated much of the lengthy press conference, including discussions of Greenland acquisition and NATO relations
