Late-night television hosts in the United States have voiced profound anger and sorrow following the fatal shooting of a Minnesota woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, condemning the Trump administration's subsequent narrative as a torrent of falsehoods.
A Mother Shot Dead on a Residential Street
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday morning in Minneapolis, resulted in the death of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three. She was shot by an ICE agent while in her car. Opening his show on Thursday, Stephen Colbert described the event as "a senseless yet entirely predictable tragedy", extending condolences to Good's family and community.
Colbert referenced widely circulated witness videos which appear to show Good's vehicle turning away from the officer before he fired shots into the side of her Honda Pilot. "It sure looks like a federal agent gunned down an American citizen without cause in front of witnesses on a city street," Colbert stated. He sharply criticised the administration's immediate characterisation of the event, accusing them of telling the public to distrust their own eyes.
Administration's 'Blatant Lie' Contradicted by Video
The host highlighted that this was the ninth shooting involving ICE agents since September, suggesting a disturbing pattern of behaviour rather than an isolated event. His comments grew more pointed as he discussed the FBI assuming full control of the investigation, blocking local Minnesota officials from the evidence. "So the message from this administration is clear: only they determine the truth, and when their forces come to your city, obey or die," Colbert concluded, urging peaceful public response.
On Late Night with Seth Meyers, the host connected the shooting to what he called Trump's broken campaign promises on immigration. Meyers argued that instead of targeting violent criminals, the administration had "blanketed the country with federal agents", disrupting everyday life. He played footage of ICE agents at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, where students were pepper-sprayed and two US citizens were arrested.
Meyers reserved particular scorn for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's description of Good's actions as "an act of domestic terrorism". "That's a blatant lie contradicted by the video evidence we can all see with our own eyes," he retorted. Meyers ended his segment on a sombre note, emphasising the injustice of labelling a slain mother a terrorist while those who stormed the Capitol had been called heroes.
Kimmel Laments Loss of a 'Baseline of Decency'
Jimmy Kimmel also addressed the killing, framing it as part of a broader erosion of truth. "What do you do when something terrible happens and a big group of people, including those who are running our country, tells you it didn't?" he asked his audience. He encouraged viewers to watch the footage for themselves, stating it was crucial to understand the reality of events.
Kimmel lamented the loss of a "baseline of decency" and criticised the effort to portray an unarmed, devout Christian mother with no criminal record as a left-wing terrorist. Dismissing Noem's claim that the officer was "following his training", Kimmel called it an insult to all law enforcement. "Apologise, investigate, let justice be served," he implored, expressing disbelief that even staunch Trump supporters would endorse this version of events.
All three hosts presented a unified front of outrage, using their platforms to challenge the official narrative, demand accountability, and highlight what they see as a dangerous escalation in government overreach and public deception.
