In a scene more reminiscent of a Hollywood courtroom drama than a day on Capitol Hill, President Donald Trump stunned reporters with a ferocious outburst following the Department of Justice’s bombshell charges against New Jersey Congresswoman LaMonica McIver. Trump, visibly agitated and flanked by security, delivered a scathing indictment of McIver’s recent conduct—calling her “completely unhinged” and claiming she “shoved federal agents like a lunatic.”
The dramatic moment followed Monday’s formal announcement by Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, who charged Rep. McIver with assaulting and impeding law enforcement officers during a fiery protest earlier this month outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark. The charges, which fall under Title 18 of the U.S. Code, carry serious legal consequences—especially for a sitting member of Congress.
“She was out of control,” Trump told reporters in a thunderous voice. “This is not how leaders act. This is how criminals behave. That woman was pushing federal officers. She doesn’t even know what country she’s in anymore. The days of that crap are OVER.”
The May 9 protest, which included several congressional Democrats and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, quickly devolved into chaos as demonstrators confronted ICE personnel outside the controversial immigration facility. According to DOJ officials, tensions escalated when McIver “aggressively shoved and impeded” multiple officers while chanting and attempting to block access to the building.
Police body cam footage, now submitted as evidence, reportedly shows McIver in a heated confrontation with agents, raising questions about what actually transpired in the seconds before the alleged assault.
“This was not peaceful protest,” Habba said during a press briefing. “This was physical interference with law enforcement. No one is above the law—whether they wear a badge or a congressional pin.”
Despite the damning charges, McIver is pushing back hard. In a fiery statement released Monday evening, she called the accusations “baseless and politically motivated,” claiming she is the victim of a “targeted smear campaign” meant to silence dissent against Trump’s immigration agenda.
“I will not be intimidated by a weaponized Department of Justice,” McIver said. “This is pure retaliation. They fear our voices. They fear the truth.”
But if McIver expected sympathy from the top, she got the opposite. President Trump doubled down in his remarks, referring to her as a “leftist radical pretending to be a public servant” and hinting that more charges could be on the way for others who participated in the protest.
“You think this ends with her?” Trump asked pointedly. “We’re going to hold ALL of them accountable. You shove a federal agent, you go to jail. That’s the law. Period.”
As the story exploded across cable news and social media, speculation grew about potential fallout within the Democratic Party. Some insiders fear McIver’s arrest could overshadow ongoing efforts to reform ICE detention practices and instead shift focus to “law and order” narratives that benefit Trump’s 2025 campaign.
Meanwhile, legal experts warn the case could become a political minefield. “This has the potential to be a flashpoint,” says constitutional attorney Michael Trent. “It’s not just about the alleged assault—it’s about how the justice system treats elected officials accused of wrongdoing while protesting.”
With body cam footage expected to be made public later this week, and rumors swirling of more arrests linked to the protest, one thing is certain: the battle over what happened outside Delaney Hall is far from over. And with Trump throwing fuel on the fire, this political storm may just be getting started.
Stay tuned. The next 48 hours could change everything.
