Byron Donald Challenges Tim Walz’s Gestapo Comparison

Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donald confronted Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Thursday over a statement that likened immigrants and ICE agents to the Gestapo.

During a speech on May 18, Walz had criticized Donald Trump by calling ICE agents the “modern Gestapo.” Donald, speaking at a House Oversight Committee hearing, expressed his disgust, emphasizing that Walz should retract the statement. He later issued an apology to ICE.

“Do you comprehend how inappropriate it is to use terms that refer to Nazi history?” Donald asked. “Would you want that phrase to be remembered?”

In his defense, Walz mentioned his long-standing support for law enforcement, clarifying that Trump’s comments didn’t pinpoint specific individuals and implied that ICE agents were operating in a troubling manner. “President Trump referred to them as modern Gestapo, coming in unmarked vans to take people away,” he stated.

Waltz acknowledged that ICE’s role involves the arrest and deportation of those who illegally enter the U.S., but Donald countered that the Biden administration had mishandled immigration procedures.

“The president is fulfilling his duty. Equating American ICE agents with the Gestapo is frankly disturbing. Governor, you’re mistaken. An apology to these agents is necessary. They serve this country honorably and deserve respect,” Donald asserted. “Don’t diminish their work for a cheap political point.”

During his earlier remarks, Walz accused ICE agents of arriving at homes in “unmarked vans” and taking individuals to what he termed “foreign torture dungeons,” claiming the Trump administration had denied fair trials to arrested immigrants.

“Donald Trump’s modern Gestapo is taking people off the streets,” Walz had stated. “They’re using unmarked vans, wearing masks, and being sent off without a chance to defend themselves or say farewell to their families. They are grabbed by masked agents, tossed into vans, and simply vanish.”

Deputy Director of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin described Walz’s comments as “ill-informed,” noting that such rhetoric has resulted in a 43% rise in attacks against ICE agents.

Moreover, CNN’s Harry Enten pointed out that Trump’s immigration policies were quite popular among legal immigrants, who generally supported the deportation of those in the country illegally. According to a White House fact sheet, border crossings and encounters with immigrants plummeted by over 93% during the first 100 days of the Trump administration.