If anyone needs more evidence that members of the Trump administration are closely monitoring social media, here's a case in point: A Tik Tok user who threatened ICE agents has been put on notice by Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security secretary.
Noem vowed to take action against the man who posted the video, stating, "If you threaten or attempt to harm a law enforcement officer we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law."
National Border Patrol Council Vice President Hector Garza also condemned the video, calling it dangerous and stating, "This kind of rhetoric is not only dangerous, it incites real-world violence and undermines the rule of law."
They were responding to a TikTok video urging people to "shoot at ICE agents on sight" due to their alleged unmarked vehicles, masks, and lack of badges, claiming they "could be anybody." The user, who used the name Belal_Donq claimed shooting an agent would be an easy case of self defense to prove in court.
“They’re pulling up like the Mafia. You might as well shoot them on sight and have your day in court," he said in the video. The user has since deleted his profile, but the video was captured by others and shared.
The user went on to question the legitimacy of ICE agents' actions, asking, "What is our country coming to? Why would you want to be an ICE agent anyway? Do you like separating kids from their parents? Do you like deporting students that are studying?"
FOX News reported that a TikTok spokesperson told them that in addition to removing “#CartelTok,” from its search engine, the platform also removed “known leaders of cartels or gangs” that violated the organization’s policy.