DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Draws Fire for Smirking Response to ICE Agent’s Post-Shooting Slur in Renee Good Case

A leaked cellphone video from the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross has sparked fresh controversy, centering on an agent’s recorded utterance of “fucking bitch” moments after the gunshots. The audio, captured in footage released by outlets including Alpha News and referenced in national broadcasts, occurs as Good’s maroon Honda Pilot crashes following three rapid shots through the windshield and driver’s window. The slur, directed at the dying 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, has been labeled misogynistic and dehumanizing by critics, who argue it reveals unprofessionalism and potential bias in federal enforcement.

The moment exploded into public view during a January 11 CNN State of the Union interview when host Jake Tapper confronted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with the clip. After playing the segment—where commands like “Get out of the fucking car!” precede the gunfire and the slur follows—Tapper asked pointedly: “Is that Agent Ross’s voice calling Renee Good a ‘fucking bitch’?” Noem, after a brief pause and what many described as a quick smirk, responded: “I can’t determine which one it is, but it could be, sir.” The exchange, widely shared online, drew accusations of callousness and indifference toward Good’s death.

Noem’s reply came amid her ongoing defense of the incident and her initial classification of Good as a “domestic terrorist” for allegedly “weaponizing” her vehicle against agents during “Operation Metro Surge.” Noem maintained that Ross acted in self-defense, claiming Good impeded the operation and posed an imminent threat, despite bystander videos and analyses showing Good turning away and attempting to drive off calmly after dropping her 6-year-old son at school.

Good, a prize-winning poet who graduated from Old Dominion University and won the 2020 Academy of American Poets Prize, was remembered by family as compassionate, loving, and non-confrontational. Her wife, Becca Good, released a statement highlighting her nurturing nature and commitment to kindness. Neighbors described her as a community member who sometimes observed ICE activities as a legal observer, not an agitator.

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Who was Renee Good? Minneapolis poet & mother killed by ICE …

The 47-second agent-released video shows chaotic commands from masked ICE personnel as Good, phone in hand, says calmly, “That’s fine, dude. I’m not mad at you.” As she maneuvers to leave, Ross fires, leading to the crash. Emergency call logs obtained by CNN describe bystanders reporting “they just shot a lady” at “point blank range.” First responders noted wounds to Good’s face, chest, and arm; she was pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center.

ICE policy requires agents to maintain professionalism, with guidelines penalizing obscene language. Legal experts suggest the recorded slur could undermine qualified immunity claims or support state-level charges against Ross, though federal jurisdiction has limited progress. The FBI leads the probe, with no civil rights investigation announced by the Department of Justice, prompting resignations in its Civil Rights Division and accusations of a cover-up.

Noem’s interview performance fueled backlash. Progressive commentators called her smirk “chilling” and “evil,” while co-hosts on shows like The View—including Ana Navarro—decried it as “hypocrisy to an inexplicable level.” Calls for Noem’s impeachment intensified, with some tying her response to broader criticisms of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

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Kristi Noem Was Asked About The ICE Agent Who Called Renee Good A …

Protests erupted nationwide, with thousands in Minneapolis chanting “Justice for Renee” near the Portland Avenue South site—close to where George Floyd died in 2020. Vigils featured memorials, crosses, and photos of Good, drawing parallels to past police violence cases.

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Protesters gather in Powderhorn Park after ICE agent kills Renee …

Minnesota officials responded forcefully: Governor Tim Walz proclaimed a remembrance day, sued DHS to pause operations, and Mayor Jacob Frey demanded ICE leave the city. A GoFundMe for Good’s family exceeded millions before closing.

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Multiple angles show Minnesota ICE shooting

As investigations stall and divisions deepen, the slur and Noem’s reaction have become symbols of eroded trust in federal accountability. Critics warn such dismissals normalize excessive force; supporters argue focus should remain on threats to agents. Good’s family seeks full transparency, hoping her legacy prompts meaningful reform in an increasingly polarized nation.