A Matter of Colors: The Distinction Between Patriotism and Domestic Terrorism

On January 6, 2021, Ashli Babbitt was fatally shot during the attack on the United States Capitol. She was part of a mob of supporters of then-outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump who stormed the United States Capitol seeking to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. At the time of her killing, Babbitt was a 35-year-old United States Air Force veteran and a supporter of QAnon, a far-right conspiracy theory.

In May of 2025, the Trump Administration agreed to $4.975M settlement of a Wrongful Death lawsuit by Babbitt’s family. Trump had consistently characterized Ms. Babbitt as a patriot, and a victim, while calling the officer who shot her, a murderer. This was in line with Mr. Trump’s overall view of the protesters, whom he said, were there for him. That was then.

Fast forward to now. Last week, on January 7, 2026, Renee Good, a 37-year-old American citizen, was fatally shot by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Good was in her SUV, stopped sideways in the street. Ross drove around her, circled her on foot, and approached the front of her car. After more agents approached her and pulled her door handle, Good began driving into the direction of traffic, turning away from Ross, as he fired three shots, killing her.

Trump, now in his second term, and his administration quickly established that they view Ms. Good’s death in a starkly different light than that in which Trump saw Ms. Babbitt’s demise. In the hours immediately following Good’s death, President Trump claimed Good “willfully and viciously” ran over the agent.

Vice President J.D. Vance said Good was part of some kind of “left-wing” network.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Good was shot as a result of an “act of domestic terrorism.”

There was a hint of irony in the timing of Ms. Good’s shooting. Babbitt was killed on January 6, 2021. Good was killed on January 7, 2026, exactly five years and one day. Both women’s death is tied to Mr. Trump. He had urged a large group of his supporters who had gather to hear him speak at the White House Ellipse, to march to the Capitol. He told the “We will stop the steal,” arguing that he, not Joe Biden had won the election.

It appears the mantra for Mr. Trump, and the conservatives who support him is:

Lay a finger on a federal officer/agent and you will face the full extent of the law…Unless you do it while you attack the U.S. Capitol in support of Trump; then you’ll get a full presidential pardon. Yesterday, the DOJ announced there is no basis for investigating Agent Ross. However, simultaneously, there dies appear to be interest in fostering a probe into Becca Good, Ms. Good’s spouse.

The administration appears to have framed it in terms of Red versus Blue, a metaphor for good and evil, respectively. “A Matter of Colors: The Distinction Between Patriotism and Domestic Terrorism!”

I’m done; holla back!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Ashli_Babbitt

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/06/ashli-babbitt-trump-settlement-00392746

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/07/us/video/ebof-minneapolis-chief-brian-ohara-ice-shooting

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Renee_Good

A Matter of Colors: The Distinction Between Patriotism and Domestic Terrorism