On CNN’s State of the Union, Jake Tapper pressed Gov. Kristi Noem about whether law enforcement faces a different standard when attacked by Trump supporters, showing video that compared an ICE agent’s fatal shooting in Minneapolis with footage from the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Noem said use-of-force decisions depend on the circumstances and defended thorough investigations under the administration. Tapper repeatedly asserted that the president had pardoned those involved in Jan. 6 and argued the footage reveals unequal treatment. The exchange highlights broader debates about accountability, force rules, and how political context shapes enforcement.
Tapper Confronts Kristi Noem: ‘Different Standard’ For Law Enforcement After Viral ICE Video?
Jake Tapper told DHS head Kristi Noem that there was a double standard in the application of law toward Trump supporters. / CNN
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was pressed on CNN’s State of the Union when host Jake Tapper confronted her about whether law enforcement faces a different standard depending on who attacks them. Tapper juxtaposed video of an ICE agent fatally shooting Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis with footage of officers being assaulted during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The Exchange On Air
Tapper challenged Noem directly, asking whether the actions shown in the Minneapolis video could reasonably be interpreted as self-defense and whether similar force would be justified if officers were attacked by Jan. 6 rioters.
Noem was shown footage of Capitol rioters assaulting law enforcement officers, and pointed out that they were pardoned by Trump. / CNN
"There’s a different standard for law enforcement officials being attacked if they’re being attacked by Trump supporters. We just saw that," Tapper said, pressing the governor to apply a consistent standard.
Noem responded cautiously, emphasizing that use-of-force decisions depend on circumstances and that officers have the authority to respond when they are physically threatened or assaulted.
Key Moments
Tapper played multiple clips during the interview: video of ICE agent Jonathan Ross’ fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis and separate footage showing rioters physically assaulting Capitol police officers on Jan. 6. He asked whether any officers in the Jan. 6 footage would be justified in using lethal force under the same standard.
The CNN host concluded that there was a 'different standard' of law applied to Trump supporters compared to detractors such as Good. / The Daily Beast/Youtube
Noem said, in part: "Every single situation is going to rely on the situation those officers are on... they have the authority to arrest those individuals." Tapper repeatedly pushed back, asserting that "the president pardoned every single one of those" and arguing that the footage demonstrates a double standard in how law enforcement responses are treated.
Context And Consequences
The exchange underscored ongoing disputes over accountability, use-of-force rules, and how investigations into officers’ actions are conducted. More than 140 law enforcement officers were injured during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack; officials have said several officers later died by suicide and linked those deaths to the trauma and injuries from the attack.
Why It Matters
The interview highlights public concerns about consistency in law enforcement oversight and the political tensions that shape how high-profile incidents are framed. The conversation between Tapper and Noem illustrates how video evidence, prosecutorial decisions, and political statements can combine to shape public debate about use-of-force standards and accountability.
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