‘I’m wondering if you’re not doing a disservice to the officer’: Jake Tapper asks Kristi Noem one question she can’t answer

Jake Tapper questioned DHS Secretary Kristi Noem about how the government would ensure a fair investigation into Jonathan Ross, an ICE agent caught on video shooting a woman in Minneapolis last week. The shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, led to hundreds of thousands of protesters taking to the streets across the country this weekend.

According to the Independent, Ross was recorded on his own phone calling Good a “f*ing b**” before shooting into her car as it appeared to turn away from him. It’s unclear if the officer was hit by the side of the vehicle. Noem tried to blame Democrats and the media for deciding the officer was guilty too early, but had no answer when Tapper asked if the administration’s strong defense of Ross would hurt future investigations.

Noem spent the interview trying to change the subject and claimed the media was making Americans less safe. After she said again that the officer shot “to protect himself,” even though Good’s car was clearly turning away, Tapper asked if those comments did the officer a “disservice” by making the investigation harder.

The administration can’t explain why it’s prejudging the case while criticizing others for doing the same

Tapper asked, “I’m wondering if you’re not doing a disservice to the officer by reaching a conclusion before the investigation takes place.” Noem responded by attacking Mayor Frey and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, saying they called the officer a murderer before knowing the facts. Tapper pointed out that Frey was his next guest on the show.

The two continued going back and forth for several minutes, with Noem avoiding every question Tapper asked. When Tapper asked what Good was doing when she moved her car, which is the key question about whether she tried to hit any ICE agents, Noem deflected by asking, “Why are we arguing with a president who is working to keep people safe?”

Public opinion appears to be turning against the administration. Vice President JD Vance called Good’s death a tragedy but also accused her of domestic terrorism. The DHS account warned on Saturday that anyone who touched a federal law enforcement member would face harsh consequences. A poll reported by Axios showed ICE’s reputation was falling even before the shooting, with support for shutting down the agency almost matching those who oppose it.

Democrats have strongly criticized the shooting and accused the administration of filling ICE with untrained new agents to meet the mass deportation goals set by the president and his adviser, Stephen Miller. The White House and federal agencies have accused the media of reporting the story dishonestly. Vance has led this effort, which Noem repeated on CNN. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also criticized Noem’s interference in the investigation.

Noem was caught changing her story during the interview. She said in her first statement that officers were “attempting to push out their vehicle” when it was stuck in snow, and Good “attacked” the agents. When responding to Tapper, she changed her words slightly: “They were there, pushing out a vehicle earlier-” A frustrated Tapper responded, “But that’s not what you said.” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey challenged the official shooting narrative and demanded answers from DHS.

Inside the administration, officials are reportedly struggling with public perception as the shooting video spread worldwide. Multiple nights of protests in cities including Minneapolis, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York, and Los Angeles show a level of anger not seen since George Floyd’s murder by a police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020.