Billionaire’s Donation to ICE Agent Sparks National Outrage

$10,000.

That’s the amount one of the world’s wealthiest men has given to the ICE agent who shot and killed Renee Nicole Good—an act that has sparked widespread anger.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman is once again drawing national attention, this time for donating $10,000 to a GoFundMe campaign for ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Ross fatally shot Good during an ICE operation in Minneapolis on January 7.

Good, 37, was a mother of three and was killed just blocks from her home. Video footage obtained by news organizations appears to capture her final moments. Several state officials have said Good was serving as a legal observer, a volunteer role focused on monitoring law enforcement activity during raids and protests.

Authorities claim Good “weaponized” her vehicle and attempted to strike Ross, prompting him to fire in self-defense. Witnesses, however, dispute that account, saying she was unarmed and did not pose a threat.

The killing quickly set off outrage nationwide. Former President Donald Trump defended the ICE agent in a post on Truth Social, calling Good a “professional agitator” and claiming she violently ran over the officer, leaving him no choice but to shoot. His remarks sparked an immediate and fierce backlash online.

The Trump administration has consistently supported ICE since the incident. Vice President JD Vance also commented, saying Good had “violated the law” and that the shooting was justified.

At the same time, a GoFundMe set up for Good’s family surged past $1.5 million—far exceeding its $50,000 goal—before donations were paused. A separate fundraiser was launched for Ross.

Ackman confirmed his donation to Ross on X, explaining that he believes in the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.” He said he also intended to donate to Good’s family but was unable to do so because their fundraiser had already been closed.

Ackman, who runs Pershing Square Capital Management, a hedge fund overseeing roughly $20 billion, described the situation as tragic. He said Ross was an officer doing his job, while Good was a protester whose actions in a split second led to her death, even if she did not intend harm. He added that the country is stronger when people work together to address the deep divisions it faces.

On Saturday, thousands of people again filled the streets of Minneapolis to protest the killing.

Amid the surge of public support, Good’s widow, Becca, shared an emotional statement with MPR News, thanking people from around the world for standing with their family. She described Renee as someone defined by kindness, saying it radiated from her in everything she did.

“She sparkled,” Becca said, explaining that Renee seemed to carry light wherever she went. She added that Renee believed deeply in nurturing kindness wherever it could be found and lived by the conviction that people are here to love one another, care for one another, and keep each other safe.