The killing of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officer (ICE) in Minneapolis on Wednesday has drawn comparisons with the death of Ashli Babbitt five years earlier during the January 6 Capitol Riot, sparking debate about the similarities and differences between the two tragedies.
The Context
Good, a 37-year-old mother of one, was shot dead by an ICE officer in her vehicle as she tried to drive away when another officer attempted to open her door. Good’s vehicle was one of several parked in the middle of a road as ICE was attempting to pass through. Democratic Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar said Good has been observing ICE action.
The White House said the ICE officer’s life was put in danger by Good’s actions, because she drove toward him as he stood in front of the car, justifying his use of lethal force. But Democrats have disputed that characterization and described Good’s death, which sparked large protests in Minneapolis, as a senseless and unjustified killing.
An Air Force veteran and a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, Babbitt, 35, was a was fatally shot by U.S. Capitol Police Officer Michael Byrd on January 6, 2021, as she was attempting to enter the House Speaker’s Lobby through a broken window of a barricaded door during the riot at the U.S. Capitol, despite warnings not to.
She was one of thousands of Trump supporters who rioted at the Capitol to try to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. Trump supporters argue that her death was unjustified and an overreaction by the officer because she was unarmed and posed no threat.
What To Know
Writing on social media, commentators compared the two cases.
“Ashli Babbitt was wearing a 5-pound backpack while trying to climb through a window,” MAGA influencer Vince Langman posted to X on Wednesday. “Renee Gold was driving a 4,000 pound SUV while trying to run over an ICE agent. Guess which situation has triggered the radical left?”
Another prominent MAGA account on X, TrumpDailyPosts, made a similar comparison.
“Ashli Babbitt was unarmed and stood in a doorway with two officers standing right next to her. No stop command was ever given before Michael Byrd used deadly force and killed her. Democrats praised and gave Byrd a medal,” they said. “ICE protestor was behind the wheel of a running SUV, was given a lawful order to stop and instead floored it while officer was in front and deadly forced was used in response. Democrats outraged.”
But the liberal actor Billy Baldwin questioned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s characterization of Good as a domestic terrorist.
“Renee Good was a domestic terrorist but Ashli Babbitt was a peaceful protester??? Feels like George Floyd all over again. Prayers for Nicole Good at the City of Minneapolis tonight,” Baldwin posted to X.
What People Are Saying
Writing on X after the shooting, Vice President JD Vance said: “I want every ICE officer to know that their president, vice president, and the entire administration stands behind them.
“To the radicals assaulting them, doxing them, and threatening them: congratulations, we’re going to work even harder to enforce the law,” he added.
The Minneapolis City Council said in a statement: “Renee was a resident of our city who was out caring for her neighbors this morning and her life was taken today at the hands of the federal government.
Minneapolis Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey, at a news conference, according to Fox 9: “So they are already trying to spin this as an action of self-defense. Having seen the video of myself, I want to tell everybody directly that is b*******.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, in an official statement: “ICE officers were out in enforcement action, they got stuck in the snow because of the adverse weather…They were attempting to push out their vehicle and a woman attacked them…and attempted to run them over and rammed them with her vehicle. An officer…acted quickly and defensively shot to protect himself and the people around him. My understanding is she was hit, and is deceased. These vehicle rammings are domestic acts of terrorism.”
Minnesota Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar wrote on X: “You’re lying. There was no attempt to run the officer over and no ICE agents appear to be hurt. Get out of our city.”
What Happens Next
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI are leading investigations into the use of force.
Minneapolis Public Schools has closed schools following the shooting.
The news cycle is loud. Algorithms push us to extremes. In the middle—where facts, ideas and progress live—there’s a void. At Newsweek, we fill it with fearless, fair and fiercely independent journalism.
Common ground isn’t just possible—it’s essential. Our readers reflect America’s diversity, united by a desire for thoughtful, unbiased news. Independent ratings confirm our approach: NewsGuard gives us 100/100 for reliability, and AllSides places us firmly in the political center.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. Ours is different: The Courageous Center—it’s not “both sides,” it’s sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy:
- Conventional Wisdom: Tracking political winds with clarity.
- Uncommon Knowledge: Deep dives into overlooked truths.
- Ad-free browsing and exclusive editor conversations.
Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
