Right-Wing Influencers Descend on Minneapolis Following Federal Shooting Incident
Right-wing creators have flooded Minneapolis in response to a recent shooting, filming protests and promoting a narrative of lawlessness.
Sortor posted a video saying, “HELL YES! ICE just SMASHED a leftist activist’s car window!” He wants more action against the protesters who reportedly block traffic to interfere with ICE. One video from Kevin Posobiec showed protesters in safety vests stopping cars in downtown Minneapolis.
These videos quickly spread across social media, picked up by accounts like End Wokeness and influencers like Matt Walsh. Sometimes they even reach cable news, becoming important stories that support the government’s crackdown on cities.
This narrative matches what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is saying. A spokesperson stated the agent was protecting himself during the event. They claim he was scared for his life and followed his training.
The Trump administration has been preparing for scenes like this. Right-wing influencers have been accompanying immigration officials to capture content, justifying immigration enforcement.
These influencers started arriving after a December YouTube video by Nick Shirley suggested a fraud scheme linked to Somali child care centers. This video went viral, gaining over 3 million views, even shared by notable figures like Elon Musk. A law enforcement officer mentioned that this video helped cause more DHS agents to come to Minnesota.
ICE plans to spend $100 million to hire influencers and ads to recruit future deportation officers. Their presence in Minneapolis will likely grow in the future.