How the Federal Government Lied About Renée Nicole Good — and Sparked a Nationwide Uprising

By Cliff Potts, CSO, and Editor-in-Chief of WPS News
January 12, 2026
New York, New York

A Narrative Rushed Into Existence

Within hours of the killing of Renée Nicole Good, the federal government did not wait for evidence, video review, or an independent investigation. It rushed instead to judgment.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, publicly framed Good as a “domestic terrorist.” The label was deployed immediately, aggressively, and without substantiation.

This article exists to document that rush, to dispute it with facts, and to preserve a public record for posterity.

The Role of the Department of Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security moved first and loudest.

Secretary Noem issued statements defending the ICE shooter and asserting that Good “weaponized” a vehicle against federal agents. The claim was made while video evidence was still emerging and before any independent review had occurred.

DHS spokespeople echoed the claim across media outlets, repeating the same language: threat, danger, terrorism.

What DHS did not do was cite evidence.

The President’s Amplification

President Trump amplified the DHS framing almost immediately, repeating claims that Good attempted to murder federal officers. These statements were issued despite the fact that:

  • Multiple videos were already circulating
  • Eyewitness accounts contradicted the official narrative
  • No body-camera footage had been released
  • No criminal history or extremist affiliation had been identified

This was not caution. It was narrative control.

The Facts That Undermine the Terrorism Claim

As of this writing, there is no documented evidence that Renée Nicole Good was a domestic terrorist.

  • No affiliation with extremist groups
  • No prior terrorism investigations
  • No record of violent activity
  • No weapons recovered
  • No credible threat assessment released

Independent video analysis and eyewitness testimony show a chaotic scene, but they do not support claims that Good attempted to kill federal officers.

Local and state officials in Minnesota publicly rejected the terrorism label, citing video evidence that contradicts the federal account.

Calling a civilian a terrorist after killing her — without proof — is not law enforcement. It is reputation destruction.

Why the Label Matters

“Domestic terrorist” is not a neutral term. It is a political weapon.

It justifies lethal force after the fact.
It chills public dissent.
It delegitimizes protest.
It pre-loads public opinion against accountability.

By labeling Renée Good a terrorist within hours of her death, the federal government attempted to close the case before it could be examined.

Exoneration by Absence of Evidence

Good’s family, friends, and community members have described her as a peaceful observer, a writer, a neighbor, and a mother.

No federal agency has produced evidence contradicting that portrayal.

In American law, the absence of evidence matters. In public memory, it matters even more.

Renée Nicole Good deserves to be exonerated in the historical record.

The National Response: Protests Across the United States

The federal government’s rush to judgment did not calm the country. It ignited it.

Over the weekend following the killing, protests erupted nationwide:

  • Minneapolis: Thousands marched, demanding justice and the removal of ICE from residential enforcement actions.
  • Washington, D.C.: Protesters gathered outside ICE and DHS facilities, calling for federal accountability.
  • New York City: Large marches shut down major streets, denouncing the terrorism narrative.
  • Chicago: Multiple demonstrations spread across neighborhoods and suburbs.
  • Los Angeles: Downtown protests linked Good’s killing to broader federal use-of-force abuses.
  • Milwaukee: Vigils and marches focused on civil liberties and ICE accountability.

Organizers estimated hundreds to more than a thousand coordinated actions nationwide, ranging from large marches to quiet vigils.

These were not riots. They were civic responses to a perceived injustice — fueled by federal dishonesty.

A Record for Posterity

This article is written deliberately for the archive.

It is meant to be read years from now, when official statements have faded and press conferences are forgotten. It records that:

  • The federal government labeled a dead woman a terrorist without proof
  • That label was used to shield a federal agent from scrutiny
  • Video evidence contradicted official claims
  • The public responded not with silence, but with mass protest

History does not look kindly on states that lie to justify violence.

Accountability Is Not Optional

Presidents do not get to invent facts.
Cabinet officials do not get to launder narratives.
Federal agencies do not get immunity from truth.

The actions of Donald Trump and Kristi Noem demand investigation. If their statements are shown to be knowingly false, prosecution should follow — not for politics, but for accountability.

Democracy depends on memory.
This record is part of that memory.

APA References

Associated Press. (2026). ICE killing sparks nationwide protests.
Reuters. (2026). Federal officials defend ICE agent amid video dispute.
Al Jazeera. (2026). Protests erupt across US after ICE shooting.
The Guardian. (2026). Minnesota officials dispute DHS terrorism claims.

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