President Donald Trump was slated to speak in Iowa on Tuesday to shift focus to the American economy as the country reels over killings in Minneapolis at the hands of immigration agents.
Trump, whose Republican Party expects to face a tough midterm battle, was expected to use the speech in Clive, Iowa, to try and convince Americans that he has his eyes on the economy, according to The New York Times.
The stop in the Midwest state has been marred by questions over the Trump administration's next moves amid a series of questions over the Department of Homeland Security's aggressive tactics against immigrants, forceful — and now fatal — attacks in Minnesota. The most recent ICE killings of mother Renee Good and ICU nurse Alex Pretti in recent weeks have raised growing concerns among lawmakers and citizens. Trump has appeared to shift his tone after the rising criticism.
Trump has previously called the focus on "affordability" a "Democrat scam" but changed direction following dismal polling results that pointed to a high dissatisfaction over his presidency in recent weeks.
"You took an oath to the Constitution to defend this country from all enemies foreign and domestic, sir," the anonymous caller said. "I don't know what you're doing right now, but we have domestic enemies in this country, sir. I hope you're devising a plan to take out these domestic enemies in Minnesota, sir."
Protests erupted in Minneapolis after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Good about three weeks ago. The incident sparked outrage on Capitol Hill among both Democrats and Republicans, as well as nationwide protests.
Calls for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to be fired or impeached have also grown louder since Good and Pretty were killed. The largest union of federal employees, which represents some Border Patrol agents, has called for Noem to be removed.
Yet there appears to still be a faction of Trump's base urging him to use violence to quell the protests.
"Sir, do something about this, will you?" the caller said.
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The dramatic ruling comes after a chaotic Jan. 20 arrest that left America reeling. According to the Department of Homeland Security, "As agents approached the driver Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, fled on foot—abandoning his child. For the child’s safety, one of our ICE officers remained with the child while the other officers apprehended Conejo Arias."
But school superintendent Zena Stenvik painted a starkly different picture, alleging that federal agents snatched young Liam Conejo Ramos from a running car and instructed him to knock on the family door, "essentially using a 5-year-old as bait."
Homeland Security fired back, insisting ICE "did NOT target a child" and claiming the agency follows standard procedure by asking parents if they want removal alongside their children.
Conejo Arias has now sued Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and other federal officials. The judge's order bars any transfer outside the judicial district during litigation.
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Your browser does not support the video tag. Trump fumes as GOP senator’s breakaway moves spark 2028 presidential buzz Trump fumes as GOP senator’s breakaway moves spark 2028 presidential buzz
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