Trump Calls Minnesota ICE Shooting “Sad to See on Both Sides”

President Trump on Wednesday took a more conciliatory approach to the controversial ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) shooting in Minneapolis that left 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a US mother of three, dead during a federal immigration enforcement operation earlier this month.

In a wide-ranging interview with Reuters, Trump described the incident as “unfortunate” and said it was “sad to see on both sides,” refusing to categorically endorse earlier characterisations of the event by him and other administration officials.

The shooting occurred on January 7 when ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Good in Minneapolis during a major immigration enforcement surge, which involved more than 2,000 federal agents. Police video reviewed by Reuters showed Ross fired multiple shots as Good’s vehicle moved past him.

In the immediate aftermath, Trump had taken a firmer line on social media, calling Good a “professional agitator” who “violently, willfully and viciously ran over the ICE Officer,” suggesting the shooting appeared to be self-defense. Vice President JD Vance also earlier defended the agent, calling Good’s death a “tragedy of her own making.”

But in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump declined to judge whether the officer’s actions were right or wrong, saying he wanted to see how legal and investigative processes unfold. When asked if he would pardon the agent if charged and convicted, Trump said he would wait to “see what happens.”

Trump also reiterated that he would continue deploying ICE officers to US cities as part of his broader strategy to combat crime, even as enforcement operations have drawn protests and heightened scrutiny.

The shooting has triggered national debate over federal immigration enforcement tactics, police use of force, and accountability, as communities grapple with the loss of Good—remembered by her family and neighbours as a devoted mother and compassionate resident.