Modern American history appears to be moving in a vicious circle, if not a downward spiral. Minneapolis, the city that ignited the "Black Lives Matter revolution" which swept across the United States and far beyond its borders following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, is burning once again. The catalyst is strikingly similar: the deaths of two citizens, their lives cut short by bullets fired by agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The last time such protests erupted—later recognized as the largest in U.S. history—they severely damaged Donald Trump’s political standing and undoubtedly contributed to his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. It seems the current occupant of the White House has drawn no conclusions from the events of 2020, nor does he intend to. It remains to be seen what the current riots in Minneapolis will mean for the United States and its president.
First blood
The historical reasons why American law enforcement agencies operate on the logic of "shoot first, ask questions later" in at least 90% of critical incidents is a matter for another debate. However, it must be acknowledged that the zeal with which Donald Trump undertook the "cleansing of the country of illegal immigrants" gave ICE agents a massive dose of self-confidence, which—as usual—quickly evolved into a sense of total impunity.
These pursuers of migrants began to imagine themselves as modern-day sheriffs in the Wild West, acting with maximum brutality and minimal regard for the letter of the law. Their raids and violent arrests, conducted defiantly in broad daylight in crowded areas, were already causing intense concern among ordinary Americans. When the first shots were fired, the situation spiraled completely out of control.
On January 7, 2026, Renee Nicole Goode was killed. ICE agents attempted to forcibly remove her from her car while she—according to publicly available videos—was simply trying to drive away. A perfectly natural reaction when two armed men attempt to invade your vehicle. Ultimately, the officers shot the woman behind the wheel repeatedly, at near point-blank range.
Authorities later attempted to claim she "tried to run over the officers, endangering their lives," but these excuses were only convincing on paper. Public opinion, already hostile toward ICE, was outraged, and that anger immediately spilled into the streets. The fact that the victim was not just a housewife but a feminist activist close to the Democratic Party and a public figure added fuel to the fire. Goode identified as a poet and author, with works published in literary journals, and she previously co-hosted a podcast with her now-deceased husband.
Following her death, hundreds took to the streets of Minneapolis, clashing with police. Solidarity protests erupted in San Francisco, Oakland, New York, Chicago, Washington, and Oregon. Furthermore, local authorities actively supported the demonstrators. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz spoke of "another incident of police violence," while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey demanded that ICE "get the hell out of his city."
Only Donald Trump, with his signature "elegance" and "subtlety," stood firmly by the agents, stating: "The screaming woman was obviously a professional provocateur, and the woman behind the wheel was extremely undisciplined, obstructive, and resisting, and then brutally and intentionally hit an ICE officer, who obviously fired in self-defense!" Following this statement, the demonstrations flared up again, becoming increasingly massive and organized. Tension escalated as a new tragedy loomed.
A new victim
The next target of ICE's weapons was 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti. A law-abiding American citizen with no criminal record, he worked as a nurse in the intensive care unit of a veterans' hospital. The official justification for his execution was that he "intended to cause maximum damage and commit mass murder against police officers."
Once again, cameras spoiled the narrative. The videos clearly show Pretti approaching the police holding only a mobile phone. The weapon later found on him was entirely legal, as he possessed a concealed carry permit. While he may have disagreed with ICE's actions and had a verbal altercation with agents, "riddling" him with bullets on the spot was an extreme even by American standards.
One might expect that after such a blatant incident, which essentially repeated the same mistakes in the same location, Trump would take a step back. Not at all. Instead, he issued a new statement in favor of the perpetrators: "This is the perpetrator's gun, loaded (with two extra full magazines!) and ready for use—what does that mean? Where was the local police? Why weren't they allowed to protect the ICE agents? Did the mayor and governor cancel their deployment? It is said that many officers were not allowed to do their jobs and that ICE was forced to defend itself—it’s not easy!".
Democrats go on the offensive
Following this, the political conflict escalated to a new level. Tim Walz demanded the immediate removal of ICE from Minnesota. The "heavy hitters" of the Democratic Party entered the fray. Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle described the killing of Alex Pretty as a "heartbreaking tragedy" and a "wake-up call for every American," as "the nation's fundamental values are increasingly threatened." They denounced the practices of masked ICE agents as "illegal, cruel, and degrading" and called on Washington to stop the escalation, expressing full support for the protests.
Destabilization plan
An interesting perspective is offered by Andrei Sidorov, Associate Professor of History at Moscow State University, who analyzed the causes and political background of the mobilizations in an interview with Pravda.Ru. The expert emphasizes that the protests in Minneapolis should be seen not only through the lens of the immigration agenda but also as part of the fierce partisan confrontation in the United States.
According to Sidorov, what is happening in Minneapolis fits into the broader context of the conflict between the Democrats and the Trump administration. As he noted, immigration operations serve merely as a formal pretext for the protests, while the real goal is to exert political pressure ahead of the midterm elections. He reminded that the current electoral cycle is crucial for the Democratic Party and that resistance from individual states is deliberate and systematic.
"Minneapolis is one of the latest flashpoints of this conflict. All these protests are not limited to the immediate issue of immigration. It is also a problem of party confrontation. We are in 2026, a midterm election year," Sidorov explained. The expert added that the emphasis is on escalating the situation to a level comparable to the events of 2020. He estimated that the political struggle is unfolding against a backdrop of deep social division and is being used as a tool to constrain the White House.
"The resistance from these states and their leaders aims to tie Trump's hands as much as possible, to prevent him from 'draining the swamp.' Will the Democrats manage to destabilize the situation to the level of 2020? This is a deeply divided country," he stressed.
Risk of impeachment
Donald Trump, it seems, has handed the Democrats a handful of political aces. Democratic senators are threatening to block the budget, demanding reforms to ICE and strict oversight of its powers. Their refusal to approve funding for the Department of Homeland Security paves the way for a partial federal government shutdown as early as January 30.
Five years ago, a wind in Minneapolis turned into a storm that cost Trump the White House. This time, elections might not even be necessary. If the Republicans lose the Senate, Trump—as he himself admits—may face impeachment. And, as it appears, he is providing plenty of reasons himself.
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