On January 11, 2026, British journalist and broadcaster Piers Morgan responded to an X post from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem saying:
“I don’t think you believe a word of this.”
Morgan questioned Noem’s characterization of the shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a Minneapolis woman, which Noem described as an act of “domestic terrorism.”
During a CNN live interview, Noem stated that Good’s vehicle was “weaponized” and it attacked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
All about Kristi Noem’s characterization of Renee Good’s actions as “domestic terrorism”
On January 7, 2026, Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old American woman, was fatally shot in her vehicle during an encounter with ICE officers. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described Good’s actions as “domestic terrorism,” and presented the situation as a threat to federal officers.
“Fact of the situation is that the vehicle was weaponized, and it attacked the law enforcement officer. He defended himself, and he defended those individuals around him. That is the definition: when there is something weaponized to use against the public and law enforcement, that is the act of domestic terrorism.”
According to a DHS statement, Noem claimed Good refused to comply with the officers’ orders to leave her car, a claim used to justify the agent’s actions. Kristi Noem reiterated this position in several media appearances, including an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, through which she claimed that DHS-examined evidence supported her version of events and pushed back against questions about the timing and conclusiveness of her characterization.
In the interview, Kristi Noem stated that she relied on video footage, officer briefings, and law enforcement conversations. She claimed that Good’s behavior met the criteria for domestic terrorism.
The federal response to the shooting has also increased tensions with local authorities. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have challenged the national narrative, citing preliminary footage that contradicts claims of an intentional attack. They have also criticized the Department of Justice for limiting state involvement in the investigation. Frey has publicly urged the FBI to grant state officials access to evidence to ensure transparency.
Noem’s stance follows growing protests and debate over immigration enforcement and the presence of federal agents in Minneapolis. Thousands of people have been protesting against ICE operations. Homeland Security has announced plans to deploy hundreds of federal officers to Minnesota in what officials describe as the largest immigration enforcement operation in the state’s history.
Kristi Noem defended the deployment as necessary to protect federal personnel given rising tensions, while local leaders cautioned that a larger federal presence could further inflame public sentiment.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Edited by Shreya Das
