Tensions boiled over on the House floor Wednesday following the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis, as a Democratic lawmaker had to be physically separated from a Republican colleague after launching a heated tirade.
Democrat Rep. Angie Craig (MN-2), a Senate candidate in the North Star State who has leaned heavily on her personal identity as a “lesbian mom” in her campaign pitch, clashed with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (MN-6) over the shooting of a woman who, according to reports, ignored law enforcement commands and used her vehicle as a weapon.
And there’s little reason to indulge debates over justification: based on the woman’s actions—clearly visible from multiple angles circulated on social media—the ICE agent was well within his rights to use his weapon. That’s above and beyond the fact that she left her home that morning with every intention of attempting to impede ICE agents from performing their constitutionally protected immigration law enforcement duties.
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Craig, however, appeared unmoved by the evidence—or unwilling to acknowledge it—and confronted Emmer after he defended ICE in the wake of the shooting. What followed underscored a lack of discipline and temperament unbecoming of a member of Congress, raising serious questions about her fitness not only to represent her district, but to seek a seat in the U.S. Senate:
Footage shows Democratic Rep. Angie Craig having a heated exchange with Republican Whip Tom Emmer, both of Minnesota, on the House floor.
Craig has strongly denounced the ICE shooting in Minneapolis, while Emmer defended the officers.
More on what was said in a story TK. pic.twitter.com/VCDeUK8WA3
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) January 8, 2026
This isn’t normal behavior. The frantic gesturing, the finger-pointing, the need to be physically restrained by another lawmaker—later identified as Democrat Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-4)—after clearly crossing a line.
It’s just not normal.
Several sources who allegedly spoke to Axios regarding the heated exchange report that Craig “told Emmer — who defended the ICE officers in the wake of the shooting — that Republicans’ political stunts in Minnesota got a woman killed.”
No. What led to this woman’s death were Democrat political stunts—refusing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, spending months physically obstructing ICE operations, and whipping up hostile activists who are then pushed toward confrontation with law enforcement.
She was following a pattern others had modeled before her, reportedly encouraged by her own wife, apparently chasing a viral moment for social media attention. Did this have to happen? No. It’s a tragedy, and no decent person wants to see a young woman lose her life. But responsibility does not lie with Republicans, and it does not lie with the ICE agent who feared for his life as an SUV he was standing in front of accelerated toward him.
The Senate candidate, meanwhile, posted a video on X echoing Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in saying ICE needs to get out of “their” city:
ICE needs to get out of our state. Now. pic.twitter.com/34NkW5hzgy
— Angie Craig (@RepAngieCraig) January 7, 2026
“President Trump and his Administration will try to justify their meddling in Minnesota – they will continue to lie and say it’s about keeping folks safe – but Minnesotans know this isn’t true. It’s a flat-out lie. Today, the President’s political stunt got a woman killed,” Craig claimed without evidence.
“Trump’s actions have never been about keeping people safe. They have never been about catching criminals,” she added, referring to the President’s clear efforts to keep people safe and catch criminals. “They have always been about weaponizing our immigration system and using immigrant communities as political pawns.”
“President Trump, Secretary Noem, hear me loud and clear: ICE must leave Minnesota – NOW.”
And if ICE doesn’t leave, then what, exactly? Are Mayor Jacob Frey and Rep. Angie Craig prepared to turn their inflammatory rhetoric into action—by having local officials physically attempt to block ICE from doing its job? That kind of escalation edges into dangerous territory if activists are encouraged to forcibly interfere with federal agents carrying out lawful duties.
The appropriate response is the opposite.
ICE should surge personnel and resources into Minnesota. A clear, overwhelming show of federal authority would send a message that obstructing justice and interfering with law enforcement will not be tolerated—and may give would-be protesters reason to think twice before crossing the line.
