Donald Trump has expressed grave reservations about the optics for his immigration crackdown after an ICE agent shot dead a protester in Minneapolis last week.
Renee Good, 37, was killed during the crackdown that has seen thousands of ICE officers flood the Twin Cities, yanking people from cars and homes while confronting angry protesters demanding they leave.
White House aides are privately worried that the tactics of Kristi Noem’s agents are eroding public support as prominent conservative voices including Joe Rogan and Megyn Kelly have criticized the administration’s handling of the issue.
Trump has even admitted that it ‘looks bad’ and wants to see ICE agents conducting deportations not fighting with protesters, according to a report from Axios.
‘I wouldn’t say he’s concerned about the policy,’ said a top Trump adviser. ‘He wants deportations. He wants mass deportations. What he doesn’t want is what people are seeing.
‘He doesn’t like the way it looks. It looks bad, so he’s expressed some discomfort at that… There’s the right way to do this. And this doesn’t look like the right way to a lot of people.’
Trump has also been shown private polling that suggests independent, moderate, and minority voters are losing support for the administration’s immigration enforcement. These voters were key to the president’s victory in 2024 and will play an essential role in the 2026 midterm elections.
Agents have yanked people from cars and homes and been confronted by angry bystanders who are demanding that officers pack up and leave
Privately, Trump believes optics surrounding ICE tactics ‘looks bad’ and wants to see ICE agents conducting deportations not fighting with protesters
Under Noem’s leadership, public support for ICE has collapsed amid the immigration crackdown in Minnesota
The internal GOP poll reportedly found that 60 percent of independent voters and 58 percent of undecided voters believe the President was ‘too focused’ on deporting illegal immigration.
The survey also found that 33 percent of respondents believed Trump was mostly deporting law-abiding people, not dangerous criminals.
Under Kristi Noem’s leadership, ICE’s reputation has also begun to take a hit with a majority of the American public.
Public polling from CNN and YouGov also found that most Americans believe the agency was making cities less safe with their immigration crackdown operations.
Meanwhile, ICE is not receiving support from state and local leaders in Minnesota who have called on the public to resist the immigration crackdown.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the situation as not ‘sustainable.’
Federal agents have used tear gas and flash bangs during nightly battles on the streets of Minneapolis, while protesters have responded by launching fireworks at officers.
Governor Tim Walz referred to it as an ‘occupation’ and said agents were ‘kidnapping people for no reason.’
Federal agents have used tear gas and flash bangs during nightly battles on the streets of Minneapolis, while protesters have responded by launching fireworks at officers
Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche claimed Frey and Walz were inciting an ‘insurrection’ with their recent statements.
‘It’s disgusting. Walz and Frey – I’m focused on stopping YOU from your terrorism by whatever means necessary. This is not a threat. It’s a promise,’ Blanche wrote on X last night.
The President has recently threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, deploying US troops to Minneapolis in order for federal agents to carry out deportations.