House Majority Whip Tom Emmer has demanded Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz resign as protests continue in Minneapolis after an ICE agent fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good. Republicans say the agent acted in self-defense after being struck by the car; Democrats say video shows three shots were fired while she remained inside her vehicle. Tensions rose after another alleged shooting during an arrest and federal officers used tear gas and pepper balls to disperse demonstrators. Emmer criticized Walz's leadership and policies, while Walz accused former President Trump of escalating the situation.
Top House GOP Leader Demands Gov. Tim Walz Resign as Minneapolis Protests Escalate After ICE Shooting
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is under pressure as protests erupt in Minneapolis over President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), the third-ranking House Republican, on Thursday renewed his call for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to resign as violent demonstrations continued in Minneapolis following a contentious Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation.
Emmer sharply criticized state leadership for what he described as a failure to restore order. "The scenes of destruction and damage taking place in Minneapolis are abhorrent. This violence cannot be tolerated," he said. "Tim Walz should resign, effective immediately. The safety of Minnesotans depends on it."
The protests were triggered by the fatal shooting earlier this month of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent. Republicans have argued the agent fired in self-defense after Good struck the officer with her car, saying the officer faced an immediate threat after a day in which Good allegedly attempted to obstruct ICE activity in the city. Democrats counter that video evidence shows the agent fired three times while Good remained inside her vehicle and was attempting to follow officers' orders to leave the scene.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer during a television interview at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Sept. 30, 2025.
Tensions intensified after a separate arrest attempt on Wednesday, during which another ICE agent allegedly shot an undocumented person in the leg, according to local reports. Demonstrators confronted federal officers, using horns and whistles, while officers deployed tear gas and pepper balls in attempts to disperse crowds.
Emmer blamed state policies he characterized as "sanctuary-state" measures for contributing to the unrest and said inaction by state leaders was endangering both residents and law enforcement. He also called Gov. Walz's recent remarks "embarrassing and inflammatory," saying they demonstrated an inability to lead under the crisis.
Gov. Walz, speaking Wednesday evening, framed federal actions as an escalation against Minnesota communities and accused former President Donald Trump of seeking to intensify the confrontation. "As bad as it's been, Donald Trump intends for it to get worse. This week, he went online to promise that, quote, the day of retribution and reckoning is coming," Walz said. "That's a direct threat against the people of this state who dared to vote against him..."
What Happened Next: Local authorities and federal agents remained on high alert as investigations into the shooting and subsequent clashes continued. Officials on all sides have called for calm while inquiries proceed.
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