Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura unleashed a blistering attack on President Donald Trump this week, branding him a “draft-dodging coward” and floating the idea of a return to the governor’s office amid renewed controversy over immigration enforcement following the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by an ICE agent.
Ventura, 74, made the remarks during an interview with local Fox affiliate Fox 9 while visiting Roosevelt High School, his alma mater. The visit came on the same day he condemned an ICE raid at the school and addressed the killing of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was shot during an ICE-related incident elsewhere in the city.
Speaking to reporters, Ventura accused Republicans of disregarding the Constitution and tied his criticism to both immigration enforcement and broader political grievances. He argued that arrests without warrants violate constitutional principles and pointed to January 6 as what he described as a prime example of constitutional disregard. Ventura claimed Republicans are now back in power and suggested the moment may be right for his own political return.
“Freedom is not arresting people without warrants. We have a system here, it’s called a Constitution,” Ventura said. He added that he had only served one term as governor and suggested he was “owed a second.”
Ventura, a Vietnam War veteran, former professional wrestler, actor, and frequent political provocateur, served as Minnesota’s governor from 1999 to 2003. He was elected under the Reform Party banner and later switched to the Minnesota Independence Party during his term. Over the years, Ventura has positioned himself as an outsider willing to attack both major political parties.
During his remarks, Ventura took aim at Republicans and Democrats alike but singled out Republicans as what he called “a domestic enemy to our Constitution.” He reserved his sharpest language for Trump, repeatedly refusing to mention the president by name and instead referring to him as a “draft-dodging coward.”
Ventura contrasted his own military service with Trump’s history, saying he spent 17 months in Southeast Asia while Trump avoided service. He argued that the presence of federal agents in American cities is evidence, in his view, that the country is being run like a “third-world country.”
“I spent 17 months in Southeast Asia while the draft dodger was playing golf,” Ventura said. “You know how I know we’re a third-world country? Because in third-world countries, they have the military doing their police work in the cities.”
Ventura also said Minnesota does not need federal officers operating within the state and voiced support for the resistance shown by Minnesota officials, including Gov. Tim Walz, to the Trump administration’s ICE actions following Good’s death.
When prompted again about Trump, Ventura doubled down on his criticism, arguing that wealthy Americans avoided the draft while others were forced to serve. He emphasized his South Minneapolis upbringing and said many of his friends were Vietnam veterans who did not have the means to avoid military service.
Ventura closed by once more hinting at a political comeback, saying his previously quiet life had been disrupted and joking that recent events might “probably” make him governor of Minnesota again.
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