VERMONT January 21, 2026 – Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s administration for labeling a Minneapolis woman fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent as a “domestic terrorist,” while characterizing January 6 insurrectionists as “peaceful.” In a post on X late Wednesday, Sanders highlighted what he called an example of authoritarianism and the propagation of the “Big Lie.”
“Trump calls violent insurrectionists ‘peaceful,’ then his administration labels a mother of three shot in her car by an ICE agent a ‘domestic terrorist,’” Sanders wrote. “This is the Big Lie in action — and it’s how authoritarianism works.” The post included a video clip from an interview where Sanders elaborated on his concerns, accusing ICE of “invading” Minneapolis under Trump’s directive to intimidate citizens and warning that such actions are “repellent to the vast majority of the American people.”
The incident Sanders referenced occurred on January 7, 2026, when 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen, mother of three and a poet was shot and killed in her Honda Pilot SUV during an ICE operation in south Minneapolis. Good, who had recently moved to the city, was described by her family and neighbors as kind and supportive, with her wife stating that she “nurtured kindness” and that the couple had stopped to aid neighbors amid the immigration crackdown.
Bystander videos and body camera footage show ICE officers surrounding Good’s vehicle on a snowy street. As she attempted to drive forward after backing up, an agent positioned in front fired multiple shots through the windshield, striking her in the chest, arm, and head. Paramedics arrived minutes later, finding Good unresponsive with no consistent pulse; she was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Trump administration swiftly defended the shooting, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem calling it an act of “domestic terrorism” and alleging Good “weaponized her vehicle” to run over agents. President Trump referred to anti-ICE protesters as “insurrectionists” and described Good’s death as a “tragedy,” while Vice President JD Vance echoed claims that she instigated the encounter. Federal officials announced plans to send hundreds more officers to Minneapolis to ensure safe operations.
However, eyewitness accounts, videos, and statements from Good’s family contradict this narrative, suggesting she was trying to navigate away from the scene rather than attack. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) condemned the rushed judgments, urging a full investigation and stating it is “not acceptable” to label Good a terrorist without evidence. Former ICE acting Director John Sandweg called Noem’s statements “incredibly irresponsible,” noting the lack of basis for terrorism claims. Experts argue the label misuses domestic terrorism definitions and could violate free speech.
Good’s death has ignited nationwide protests against Trump’s mass deportation efforts, with demonstrators demanding justice and an end to aggressive ICE tactics. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey dismissed the self-defense claim as “garbage,” and state officials have rejected the administration’s portrayal.
The FBI is investigating the shooting, amid calls from Democrats for transparency. Sanders’ comments underscore ongoing partisan divides over immigration enforcement and rhetoric, as the administration broadens operations in sanctuary cities like Minneapolis.
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