John Cleese Questions FIFA World Cup in the U.S. After Shooting Incident

Actor John Cleese, known for his role in Monty Python, has raised concerns about whether the FIFA World Cup should take place in the United States following a tragic incident in Minnesota. A woman named Renee Goode was shot and killed by an ICE officer after she allegedly attempted to flee when instructed to exit her vehicle.

Governor Kristi Noem stated that Goode tried to hit the officers with her car, but Cleese expressed his disagreement with this account. He shared a post highlighting the arrest of another woman by ICE following Goode’s death, questioning if it’s wise to hold a significant event like the World Cup in a country where, in his view, “the rule of law no longer exists.”

Cleese’s comments came amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions surrounding immigration enforcement. Former President Donald Trump has threatened to prohibit the game from U.S. cities he considers unsafe. His post was widely shared, including by tennis great Martina Navratilova, who has voiced criticisms against ICE following the Minnesota incident.

Noem defended the actions of the ICE officers, labeling Goode’s behavior as “domestic terrorism” and justifying their response as defensive. In contrast, various Democratic leaders pointed to this shooting as an example of unnecessary violence associated with the Trump administration’s policies. Hillary Clinton referenced protests that erupted in Minnesota after Goode’s death, urging for accountability.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has also called for ICE to withdraw from the city, a request echoed by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who expressed similar sentiments on social media. Meanwhile, during a recent game, the Minnesota Timberwolves team held a moment of silence for Goode, leading to some fans expressing their frustrations against ICE vocally.