Washington, January 9 – Vice President JD Vance unleashed a fierce critique against major US news outlets for their handling of a deadly shooting in Minneapolis involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. Vance described the reporting as ‘utterly shameful,’ arguing that such biased coverage endangers law enforcement officers who risk their lives daily to uphold the law.
The incident stemmed from a confrontation where the ICE agent fatally shot a woman Vance claims was interfering with a legitimate federal operation. Highlighting a CNN headline that read, ‘Outrage After ICE Agent Kills US Citizen in Minneapolis,’ Vance pointed out glaring omissions. ‘This was an attack on federal law enforcement, on law and order, on the American people,’ he declared, emphasizing his deliberate use of the word ‘attack.’
Vance recounted how the same officer had been dragged by a car six months prior, requiring 33 stitches in his leg. ‘If someone tries to run you over with a car again, wouldn’t you be on high alert?’ he asked rhetorically, slamming media for ignoring this context.
Defending the officer’s actions, Vance asserted the woman was obstructing a valid enforcement action. When pressed that the investigation is ongoing, he fired back: ‘Your job is to report the truth. How did you turn into a conduit for radical propaganda that makes our job harder?’
Addressing intent versus facts, Vance clarified: ‘We can debate what was in her mind, but she broke the law, and the officer had every reason to fear for his life.’ He urged media to criticize elected leaders like himself or the President, not frontline officers doing the public’s bidding.
Vance blamed sensationalist headlines for inflaming tensions, calling this one of the biggest media scandals he’s witnessed. He touted a 20% drop in violent crime over the past year, crediting empowered law enforcement. ‘America needs media that tells the truth,’ he concluded, warning against portraying self-defense as murder.