WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance on Thursday forcefully defended the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who fatally shot 36‑year‑old Renee Good in Minneapolis, asserting the agent acted in clear self‑defense — a characterization that remains unverified as state and local officials continue to dispute the federal narrative.
Speaking from the White House briefing room, Vance said the officer “was clearly acting in self‑defense” and accused journalists of “gaslighting” the public about the circumstances of the shooting. “What you see is what you get,” he said, arguing that media outlets were manufacturing ambiguity around the incident.
But a closer look at available evidence, official statements, and witness accounts shows that several of Vance’s assertions are either unsubstantiated or directly contradicted by what is known so far.
1. Claim: The ICE officer was “clearly justified” and acted in self‑defense.
What Vance said:
He insisted “what you see is what you get,” arguing the officer “was clearly acting in self‑defense” and that ambiguity was being invented by the media.
What reporting shows:
• Multiple news outlets note that the facts are not settled.
• Videos show nuance, and “it remains unclear exactly what took place beforehand.”
• State and local officials dispute that the shooting was self‑defense.
• Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was removed from the investigation, raising concerns about transparency.
Verdict: Unsubstantiated. The investigation is ongoing, and available evidence does not support Vance’s certainty.
2. Claim: Renee Good “tried to run over” the ICE officer.
What Vance said:
He repeatedly claimed Good attempted to run over the officer with her car.
What reporting shows:
• This claim is disputed by witnesses and local officials.
• Her ex‑husband vehemently denied that she attempted to run anyone over.
• Videos circulating online do not conclusively show an attempt to run over the agent.
Verdict: Disputed and unverified.
3. Claim: Good was “brainwashed” and part of a “left‑wing network.”
What Vance said:
He framed Good as “a victim of left‑wing ideology” and suggested she was influenced by a “network” of political groups.
What reporting shows:
• Multiple outlets note Vance provided no evidence for these assertions.
• Reporting highlights that these claims were made without substantiation.
Verdict: No evidence. This is a political characterization, not a factual claim supported by reporting.
4. Claim: Media coverage is “an absolute disgrace” and endangers law enforcement.
What Vance said:
He accused journalists of “gaslighting,” “propaganda,” and misrepresenting the shooting.
What reporting shows:
• This is an opinion, not a factual claim.
• However, outlets note that Vance’s narrative contradicts emerging evidence and undercuts his own administration’s earlier maximalist claims.
Verdict: Opinion, not fact. But his criticism conflicts with independent reporting.
5. Claim: The shooting was “a tragedy of her own making.”
What Vance said:
He argued that Good caused her own death by interfering with law enforcement.
What reporting shows:
• This framing is not supported by confirmed facts.
• The investigation is incomplete, and key evidence has not been publicly released.
• Minnesota’s governor expressed doubt that the federal probe will yield a “fair outcome.”
Verdict: Unproven and premature.
Overall Assessment
Across multiple claims, VP Vance presents certainty where the facts remain unsettled.
Independent reporting consistently shows:
• The investigation is incomplete.
• Key claims by Vance are disputed by witnesses, local officials, and video evidence.
• Assertions about ideology or networks lack evidence.
In short, Vance’s statements go well beyond what verified facts currently support.
As scrutiny intensifies, the Minneapolis shooting has become a flashpoint in the broader national debate over immigration enforcement, police accountability, and the role of political rhetoric in shaping public perception of high‑stakes incidents.
The Trump administration may prefer a narrative of clarity, but the facts tell a different story — one defined by gaps, contradictions, and unanswered questions. In a moment this volatile, certainty is not leadership. It is spin. And spin is the last thing the country needs when a woman has been killed, and the truth is still unfolding.
Hugo Balta is the executive editor of the Fulcrum and the publisher of the Latino News Network
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a“ Steel Across America” event ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11th attacks on the Ellipse near the White House on Sept. 8, 2026 in Washington, D.C. President Trump welcomed 9/ 11 first responders to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’ s“ Steel Across America” event featuring a 16,900- pound, 21- foot steel beam recovered.
For Trump, even 9/11 is an opportunity
There was a reason organizers of the 9/11 ceremony in Manhattan told President Trump he could not speak at this year’s memorial service.
A good one, it turns out.
Because in a speech he gave on Tuesday in Washington, he did exactly what they were presumably worried about — he made it about himself.
According to The New York Times, Trump had wanted a speaking role at the service, but the National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum, which oversees the site, said no, as they’ve maintained for the past decade-plus that the venue and event should be nonpartisan.
Trump has long used awful tragedies to either puff himself up, trash political opponents, or sell lies to the American people.
He blamed a deadly plane crash at Washington National Airport last year on diversity, equity and inclusion policies. He blamed Puerto Ricans for the devastation they endured after Hurricane Maria in 2017. He reportedly considered withholding disaster relief after the California wildfires based on the way affected regions voted. In an interview on Fox News meant to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, he used the occasion to slam former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi…with graves of the dead behind him.
And now, as we approach the 25th anniversary of what many New Yorkers consider the darkest day in modern history, Trump has done it again.
He told a rambling, nonsensical story — one he’s told before — about going to Ground Zero just after terrorists flew two commercial jets into the twin towers. In the story, which no one has been able to verify, despite multiple attempts, he says firefighters had to carry him out of One Liberty Plaza, also known as the U.S. Steel Building, because they thought it was about to collapse.
As CNN fact checker Daniel Dale notes, there’s no evidence Trump went into this building, especially at a time when NYPD and NYFD had locked down the area. There’s no evidence that building was collapsing — in fact, it was deemed structurally sound and reopened within two months of the attacks. There’s no evidence he was carried out of it by firefighters.
But the lie isn’t even the worst part. Pretend it was all true — why would the leader of our country, and a New Yorker, decide to make that tragic day about himself?
Because that’s who Donald Trump is. He’s a malignant narcissist.
He’s also, incidentally, a terrible and ineffectual president, who’s made ill-fated decisions that he has to keep defending, and there’s nothing he won’t do to make himself look and feel better.
Within the first two minutes of his speech, he was cravenly using 9/11 to justify and promote his dumb war in Iran — two events separated by 25 years and 6,000 miles.
“And I will tell you, we’re right now fighting because we have a certain nation that wanted a nuclear weapon, they were very close to getting it, and now they have no chance at getting it. They will never have a nuclear weapon. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. And they’ve been punished greatly. As you know, we’ve really taken it to them.”
As a New Yorker who lived through 9/11, still one of the worst days of my life, I’m utterly sickened by Trump’s crass, political, and self-promotional framing of that awful day.
And I’m relieved he won’t be given a platform to do it again on Friday’s anniversary in lower Manhattan.
Because for Trump, everything is his for the taking, and absolutely nothing is sacred.
S.E. Cupp is the host of "S.E. Cupp Unfiltered" on CNN.