Vice President JD Vance did not mince words Tuesday after Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., suggested that Americans might be justified in shooting a federal agent if they believed they were being attacked by “masked hoodlums.” Vance called the remarks “despicable,” and frankly, that’s being polite.
Nadler made the comments during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, where he claimed the biggest problem in the country is what he described as “fascism in our streets.” According to Nadler, if someone were attacked by a masked person, they might think they were being kidnapped and would be justified in shooting to protect themselves.
Vance responded swiftly on X, saying Nadler, one of the highest-ranking Democrats in the House, was openly calling for people to shoot federal law enforcement. He labeled the behavior “despicable” and added that he was sure the left-wing media would cover it extensively. That last part may have been the most sarcastic line of the day.
Nadler continued his remarks by questioning why people were being shot, asking, “For driving a car?” His comments came after several recent fatal encounters involving federal agents during Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
Federal authorities say Renee Good was shot and killed last month by an ICE agent after driving off to avoid arrest on suspicion of obstructing an immigration operation. Officials stated that she used her vehicle to block federal agents on a residential street and struck an agent, prompting him to fire in self-defense. Others dispute the government’s account of what happened before her death.
Weeks later, Alex Pretti was shot and killed while interfering in an ICE operation in Minneapolis. That incident fueled renewed calls from some Democrats to abolish ICE altogether.
Vance’s reaction highlights the sharp divide between those who support law enforcement carrying out their duties and those who increasingly frame federal agents as villains. While Nadler painted agents as “masked hoodlums,” Vance made clear that encouraging or justifying violence against them crosses a dangerous line.
At a time when federal officers are enforcing the law under intense pressure, words matter. And when a senior Democrat appears to excuse shooting them, it sends exactly the wrong message.
The silver lining? The contrast couldn’t be clearer. One side defends the rule of law and the people who enforce it. The other flirts with rhetoric that puts them in danger. In the end, Americans can see who is standing with law enforcement — and who is willing to sacrifice them for political talking points.
