Zohran Mamdani publicly condemned ICE after the Minneapolis shooting, drawing sharp criticism for weighing in on a federal law enforcement incident far from his jurisdiction.

This one is simple and direct: a New York City councilman stepped into a lethal encounter in Minneapolis and issued a fiery accusation before investigators finished their work. The reaction from Zohran Mamdani struck many as overreaching and politically charged, especially given the facts that were emerging at the scene. Local officials can comment, but there’s a difference between calling for calm and declaring guilt.

Mamdani’s past missteps add context. He was criticized for relying on staff briefings instead of seeking full, formal intelligence on a high-profile operation tied to President Trump’s Venezuela raid, which fed skepticism about his grasp of federal enforcement roles. That background made his swift public condemnation feel less like measured leadership and more like political posturing to opponents.

Here’s what happened on the ground: Renee Nicole Good, 37, allegedly tried to ram ICE agents in Minneapolis and was shot during the confrontation. The chaotic scene and the use of force by federal officers demand an investigation, not instant verdicts shouted across state lines. Yet Mamdani moved directly to a prosecutory stance, framing the outcome as a murder without waiting for evidence or an official review.

“This morning, an ICE agent murdered a woman in Minneapolis—only the latest horror in a year full of cruelty. As ICE attacks our neighbors across America, it is an attack on us all. New York stands with immigrants today, and every day that follows,” he wrote in a tweet.

That tweet is blunt and consequential, and it deserves scrutiny because public figures shape narratives in real time. Labeling an unresolved use of force as murder without a completed investigation escalates tensions and paints federal officers with a single brush. It’s also politically useful to some, but dangerous for public trust and for the families involved.

From a Republican perspective, the priority should be public safety and rule of law. Citizens and lawful immigrants deserve clear rules and consistent enforcement. We backed tougher immigration policies at the ballot box because unchecked illegal entries and lawlessness endanger communities, and that political reality should temper hasty condemnations from elected officials who represent different jurisdictions.

There’s also a practical point about federal versus local roles. A city council member in New York criticizing a federal operation in Minneapolis crosses lines most leaders respect. If Mamdani wants to influence federal policy, there’s a process: advocate, legislate, or litigate. Sloganeering on social feeds is not a substitute for responsible engagement with investigative processes that determine what actually happened.

We must also respect the investigative institutions. The FBI and federal watchdogs exist to examine cases like this, including body cam footage, witness statements, and forensic evidence. Jumping to conclusions undermines those institutions and can politicize outcomes that should be determined on facts, not by pressure campaigns or social-media hot takes.

Finally, public leaders should weigh their words because they matter. Casting ICE as an indiscriminate enemy erodes trust in agencies tasked with protecting borders and enforcing immigration law. If mistakes are found, they should be condemned and corrected, but political theater before evidence is in only deepens division and distracts from constructive solutions to violent confrontations and illegal entry.

Wait until the FBI finishes its review. What you said was reckless and without evidence. Also, I have a feeling you’ll be eating crow on this, which should be consumed with a knife and fork.

Last note: Mayor Frey was probably worse.