Trump Comments On DOJ Charging Congresswoman
President Donald Trump delivered a scathing rebuke of Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) this week following her indictment over a physical confrontation with federal ICE agents outside a New Jersey detention center. Trump, never one to mince words, described McIver as “out of control” and used the moment to underscore a broader message: the era of permissive, protest-driven chaos is over.
The charges stem from a protest outside Delaney Hall in Newark, where McIver was joined by prominent New Jersey Democrats, including Reps. Bonnie Watson-Coleman and Rob Menendez, as well as Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. Body cam footage cited in the indictment reportedly shows McIver physically engaging ICE agents during a scuffle, pushing past the limits of legal protest into federal interference.
Trump’s reaction was immediate and emphatic. “Oh, give me a break. Did you see her?” he asked rhetorically when prompted by reporters. “That woman was out of control. The days of woke are over. The days of that crap are OVER in this country. We’re gonna have law and order.”
Trump on the arrest of Dem Rep. LaMonica McIver who assaulted a federal agent outside a NJ ICE facility:
"Did you see her? She was out of control...The days of that crap are OVER in this country. We're gonna have LAW and ORDER." pic.twitter.com/yCvmOo004t
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 20, 2025
The response wasn’t just political—it was part of a larger theme that has defined Trump’s return to office: a hard reset on federal authority, protest culture, and the so-called ‘woke’ governance style that had become mainstream during his predecessor’s administration.
Trump’s comments served both as condemnation of McIver’s alleged actions and a declaration of intent: under his leadership, confrontations with federal law enforcement will not be tolerated—especially when they come from within the political class.
The media reaction has, predictably, followed partisan lines. On CNN NewsNight, Republican commentator Scott Jennings posed a question that cut to the heart of the matter: “Would a non-politician get away with physically confronting a federal agent?” The answer from host Abby Phillip was less direct—and more deflective. Rather than address McIver’s behavior, Phillip pivoted to President Trump’s pardons of January 6th defendants, sarcastically suggesting that those aligned with Trump might be more likely to avoid consequences.
But that rhetorical dodge only sharpened the distinction at play. For Trump and his supporters, McIver’s indictment represents a necessary return to accountability. For his critics, it's another opportunity to claim hypocrisy, pointing to Trump's own controversial history with protest and prosecution.
Regardless, the situation is a litmus test for the new standards of political conduct under the Trump administration. The Justice Department’s move to press charges signals that no badge of office will shield lawmakers from legal repercussions if they physically interfere with federal agents.