Ventura Calls Trump ‘Draft-Dodging Coward’

Asked about the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis this week, former Minnesota governor and Navy SEAL Jesse Ventura called the incident “murder” and sharply criticized President Trump in his remarks. Ventura said the fatal shooting Wednesday “did not have to happen” and accused the administration of failing to show courage and leadership in handling the situation.

President Trump has publicly defended the federal agent involved, saying the ICE officer “seems to have shot her in self defense.”

Ventura contrasted his own military service with President Trump’s Vietnam-era draft deferments and medical exemption, calling Trump a “draft-dodging coward” who avoided service while others went to war. “He’s gonna tell me what courage is?” Ventura said.

At 74, Ventura also criticized the use of military-style force by federal authorities, saying the nation is “a third‑world country now” and suggesting that elected officials have overlooked constitutional protections, including restrictions on arrests without warrants. His experiences overseas, he said, shaped his perspective on civil liberties and the dangers of unchecked power.

Ventura, who governed Minnesota from 1999 to 2003 and has since been an independent political figure, also hinted at a possible return to public office. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz this week announced he will not seek reelection, and Ventura joked that perhaps “it’s time for Jesse,” noting, “I only did one term. I’m owed a second.”

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