Author Stephen King sparked controversy on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, when he compared Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to Nazi Germany’s secret police in a post on social media platform X.
“ICE is the American Gestapo,” King wrote to his nearly seven million followers.
The comparison referenced the Gestapo, which formed in 1933 and enforced Nazi law without due process by arresting political opponents and targeting enemies of the regime. The organization operated as the secret state police of Nazi Germany during Adolf Hitler’s rule.
King, best known for his horror novels including “The Shining” and “Carrie,” has been a frequent critic of the Trump administration. Fox News Digital reached out to King for comment, but did not receive a response. The outlet also contacted ICE, but did not immediately hear back.
The author’s statement came amid heightened tensions surrounding ICE operations in Minneapolis, where Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer as she was trying to drive away. The shooting triggered protests that erupted in Minneapolis and other locations across the country.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the ICE officer’s actions following the incident. However, the Department of Homeland Security defended the agent, stating he acted in self-defense. The agency went further, describing Good’s behavior before the shooting as “an act of domestic terrorism.”
King was not alone among prominent figures in drawing parallels between ICE and the Nazi-era secret police. Bruce Springsteen made similar remarks during a performance in New Jersey, calling for ICE to get out of Minneapolis.
“If you believe in democracy, in liberty, if you believe that truth still matters, that it’s worth speaking out, that it is worth fighting for, if you believe in the power of the law and no one stands above it, if you stand against heavily armed masked federal troops invading American cities and using Gestapo tactics against our fellow citizens, if you believe you don’t deserve to be murdered for exercising your American right to protest, then send a message to this president,” Springsteen told the crowd.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also invoked the Gestapo comparison at the University of Minnesota Law School’s graduation ceremony. Walz compared ICE to the modern-day Gestapo, stating that Donald Trump’s administration was scooping people up off the streets.
The cultural response to ICE enforcement actions extended to Hollywood, where several celebrities demonstrated their opposition at high-profile events. Mark Ruffalo, Wanda Sykes, Jean Smart, Ariana Grande, and Natasha Lyonne wore pins with slogans reading “Be Good” and “ICE Out.” The Be Good pins appeared on celebrities at the Golden Globes as a form of protest.
The pins referenced Good, whose death became a rallying point for critics of federal immigration enforcement. The incident in Minneapolis represented a flashpoint in ongoing debates about immigration enforcement tactics and the use of force by federal agents.
The controversy surrounding ICE operations intensified after another incident involving Alex Pretti, who had a rib broken in an anti-ICE protest before he was killed by Border Patrol. The death added to mounting criticism from activists and public figures who argued federal immigration enforcement had become too aggressive.
The historical comparison invoked by King and others carries significant weight. The Gestapo operated as an instrument of political repression in Nazi Germany, wielding unchecked authority to detain, interrogate, and eliminate perceived threats to the regime. The organization became synonymous with state terror and the systematic violation of human rights during one of history’s darkest periods.
Critics of the comparison argue that equating modern American law enforcement agencies with Nazi Germany’s apparatus of persecution trivializes the Holocaust and the systematic murder of six million Jews. Supporters of such rhetoric contend that drawing historical parallels serves as a warning against authoritarian overreach and the erosion of civil liberties.
The debate reflects broader tensions in American society regarding immigration policy, federal authority, and the appropriate limits of law enforcement power. ICE has faced scrutiny throughout multiple administrations for its detention practices, deportation operations, and use of force during arrests.
King’s statement on X generated immediate attention given his substantial following on the platform. The author has used his social media presence to comment on political issues throughout recent years, establishing himself as a vocal critic of President Trump’s policies.
The confluence of celebrity activism, local government criticism, and widespread protests in Minneapolis created a moment of intense focus on ICE operations. Federal immigration enforcement has become one of the most contentious policy areas in contemporary American politics, with sharp divisions over how the United States should handle unauthorized immigration and what level of force is appropriate during enforcement actions.
As protests continued in Minneapolis and other cities, the gap between federal officials defending their agents’ actions and local leaders condemning them highlighted the jurisdictional and political complexities surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States.