US Vice President JD Vance is facing a storm of criticism after a recent viral video showed him appearing to backpedal on his earlier claims that federal agents possess 'absolute immunity.'
The controversy erupted on 24 January 2026, when footage began circulating on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, juxtaposing Vance's defiant White House briefing on 8 January with more recent, conciliatory remarks.
In the earlier clip, Vance defended an agent who fatally shot 37-year-old mother Renee Nicole Good, stating bluntly, 'That guy is protected by absolute immunity. He was doing his job.' However, following the 24 January killing of VA nurse Alex Pretti, the third fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis this month, Vance told reporters, 'I didn't say... that officers who engaged in wrongdoing would enjoy immunity; that's absurd.'
The reversal comes amid public outrage over the deaths of US citizens Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti during Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-linked operations, and has raised uncomfortable questions about credibility, accountability and how senior officials frame the use of lethal force.
JD Vance Now Says There's No ICE Immunity
Speaking to reporters in Washington last week, Vance rejected claims that he had argued for blanket legal protection for ICE agents. He said critics had misunderstood his position and insisted he had never suggested officers should be shielded if they committed crimes.
CNN put together a clip of JD Vance claiming ICE agents have "absolute immunity" followed by him two weeks later claiming "I didn't say that officers who engage in wrongdoing would enjoy immunity" pic.twitter.com/fGbUDFc4Fd
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 24, 2026
'I didn't say, and I don't think any other official within the Trump administration said that officers who engaged in wrongdoing would enjoy immunity, that's absurd,' Vance said. He presented his remarks as a defence of lawful enforcement rather than a justification for misconduct.
The statement was issued amid protests and legal questions surrounding ICE operations. It was also intended to calm concerns that federal officials were closing the door on accountability.
Vance Backs Away From His Words
The renewed backlash stems from an earlier appearance by Vance following the fatal shooting of Good in Minnesota earlier this month. At the time, he spoke from the White House in defence of the ICE agent involved.
'You have a federal law enforcement official engaging in federal law enforcement action. That guy is protected by absolute immunity. He was doing his job,' Vance said during those remarks.
The viral video places that statement alongside his more recent denial. Critics argue the language is materially different, noting that the earlier comment did not mention wrongdoing or any limits on immunity. The contrast has fuelled accusations that Vance later narrowed his position to blunt criticism.
The 'immunity flip-flop' video has garnered over 15 million views, fueling accusations that the Trump administration is attempting to rewrite the legal standard for federal conduct.
| Date | JD Vance's Statement | Context |
| 8 Jan 2026 | "That guy is protected by absolute immunity. He was doing his job." | Defending agent Jonathan Ross after the Renee Good shooting. |
| 25 Jan 2026 | "Officers who engaged in wrongdoing would [not] enjoy immunity... that's absurd." | Responding to outrage over the killing of Alex Pretti. |
Netizens Call JD Vance a 'Liar'
Reaction online was swift once the side-by-side video began circulating on 24 January. Many users accused Vance of attempting to rewrite his own words.
One widely shared post read: 'This isn't about a bad clip. JD Vance said ICE agents have absolute immunity, then tried to erase it weeks later.' Another comment simply stated: 'All they do is lie.'
Others defended the vice president, arguing the video lacked context. 'That is CNN comparing things out of context. It's all in the editing,' one user wrote. Despite that pushback, the video continued to spread, drawing millions of views within days.
Do ICE Have Absolute Immunity?
Legal experts say the issue is more complex than either side of the online debate suggests. Constitutional law specialists stress that ICE immunity is not absolute under US law.
'The idea that a federal agent has absolute immunity for crimes they commit on the job is absolutely ridiculous,' said Michael J.Z. Mannheimer, a constitutional law expert at Northern Kentucky University.
Former federal prosecutor Timothy Sini said officers can claim protections, but courts must decide whether those protections apply.
'Officers are not entitled to absolute immunity as a matter of law,' he said, explaining that judges must assess whether actions were reasonable and within official duties.
While prosecutions are difficult, experts say accountability remains possible through state charges, federal civil rights cases, or civil lawsuits. The legal pathway may be narrow, but it is not closed.
For critics, Vance's walk-back reinforces fears that accountability is being diluted through rhetoric. For supporters, it reflects a media-driven distortion of intent.
What remains clear is that the phrase 'absolute immunity' carries legal weight far beyond casual political defence. In an era of viral scrutiny and fatal consequences, precision matters — and so does consistency.
