JD Vance criticized a shooting victim in a shocking outburst, accusing her of being “brainwashed” and “radicalized” and holding her responsible for her own demise. The US Vice President expressed a desire to calm tensions following the tragic incident involving Renee Good, who was shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. However, during a sudden press briefing at the White House, he alleged that the 37-year-old mother had intentionally attempted to run over the agent, leading to his act of self-defense. He characterized her death as a “tragedy of her own creation.”
These statements followed assertions by former President Donald Trump that the shooter had sustained injuries and received medical treatment, despite video evidence showing him walking around the crime scene before departing in a vehicle. When questioned about potentially influencing an ongoing investigation, Trump dismissed concerns.
Vance stood by his version of events, despite widespread contradictions from sources outside the Trump administration. Surveillance footage indicated that Good was trying to maneuver around the agent when he discharged his weapon at her. Vance further alleged, without substantiation, that Good was affiliated with a “radical left network” opposing ICE operations targeting noncitizen individuals for deportation.
He contended that Good had been indoctrinated into a “left-wing ideology” and criticized the media for not highlighting that the agent had been struck by vehicles on previous occasions, though the agent’s identity remained undisclosed. Vance defended his conclusion by referencing video angles and claimed that Good accelerated her vehicle towards the agent, despite conflicting evidence.
In a contentious exchange, Vance defended his position that the agent deserved recognition for his actions during the incident. He speculated about the origins of the alleged network influencing Good and emphasized that the FBI, under the leadership of Trump appointee Kash Patel, would spearhead the investigation, excluding local law enforcement based on jurisdictional concerns.