While Good was labeled a “domestic terrorist” by White House officials such as Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin described Pretti—who worked with military veterans at the Minneapolis VA—as someone who intended to inflict “maximum damage” on law enforcement.
Foreign policy and rhetoric fuel political backlash
As protests over ICE intensify, Trump is also facing criticism over foreign policy. His comments about Greenland—including suggestions of potential military action to seize the Denmark-owned territory—have angered NATO allies and unsettled many Americans.
Trump’s tariff threats against NATO partners were widely condemned at home and abroad, narrowly avoiding a trade war. With U.S. midterm elections scheduled for November, Republicans worry the president’s actions could jeopardize their chances of retaining control of Congress.
Adding to the tension, Trump has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of elections, continued to falsely claim the 2020 vote was “stolen” from Joe Biden, and has even floated the idea of a third presidential term—something barred by the Constitution. His remarks about possibly not holding midterms sparked outrage among Democrats, though supporters insist he was joking or speaking rhetorically.
Voters still waiting on economic relief
Lowering the cost of living was a central promise of Trump’s 2024 campaign. Yet after a year in office, prices remain high, and many Americans continue to rely on food banks or work multiple jobs to survive.
Despite Trump’s claims that grocery prices are falling and tariffs will make goods cheaper, voters say they have not felt meaningful relief. While illegal border crossings may be down, reports of U.S. citizens being detained, deported, or killed have intensified criticism of immigration enforcement. Even some Trump voters say they oppose targeting non-criminal immigrants, and stories of people deported to unfamiliar countries have damaged ICE’s public image.
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