\“Calling Victims ‘Terrorists’: A Senate Clash Over Language\”

The debate began when the Secretary of Homeland Security declared that two people shot by federal agents in Minneapolis were “domestic terrorists.” She repeated the claim at a Senate hearing, insisting it came from on‑scene agents. Senators from both parties asked why she would label victims of violence in such a way. She did not change her words.

• Senator’s Reaction
  One senator, the top Democrat on the panel, laughed and said it seemed like a way to calm people. He wondered if calling the victims “terrorists” was meant to ease tension, not to honor their memories. The secretary defended her language by saying she heard it from officers on the ground, describing the scene as chaotic.

• Agency Contradictions
  The heads of two federal immigration agencies had told senators a month earlier that they had not received any assessment labeling the victims as terrorists. The acting director of the agency said there was no evidence to support those claims. The secretary’s statements therefore contradicted what she had been told by the agencies she reports to.

• First Shooting Claims
  After the first shooting, the secretary accused the victim of trying to run over officers with her car. She called that an act of domestic terrorism. A major news outlet later showed the victim turning her car away from the officer as he fired. The secretary’s claim was not backed by that footage.

• Second Shooting Claims
  A senior adviser to the former president called one of the victims a domestic terrorist. The secretary echoed that statement at a news conference without providing evidence. Senators asked her how she reached those conclusions.

• Family’s Perspective
  One senator from Minnesota said the remarks were “one of the most hurtful things” the victim’s family could hear. He asked if she had anything to say to them. The secretary offered condolences but did not retract her earlier statements, insisting that it appeared to be an incident of domestic terrorism.

• Political Accusations
  A Republican senator from Louisiana questioned whether the secretary was blaming another political figure for her words. She denied that, calling a report about it false and saying the source was anonymous.

The hearing highlighted how language can shape public perception. It also showed that even high‑level officials may rely on unverified information when speaking about sensitive incidents. The senators’ questioning raised important questions about accountability and the power of words in politics.