How Conservative Influencers Are Shaping Narratives in Minneapolis

In the chaotic aftermath of the ICE officer’s shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis, a slew of pro-Trump media figures, journalists, and influencers aggressively populated the city and swarmed social media channels.

These right-wing content producers recorded the protests, accompanied ICE and border protection agents, and at times potentially fueled conflicts with protesters. They aimed to shape a narrative supportive of ICE and Trump, depicting protesters as unruly, labeling demonstrations as violent, and framing ICE opposers as radicals or criminals. Nationwide, conservative influencers amplified these visuals and accounts, reaching extensive audiences.

Key Observations

These efforts have added confusion to discussions about Good's death and the reactions of Minneapolis residents to Trump’s ICE enforcement actions, especially within right-wing circles. Recent data shows these stories resonate with a significant portion of Americans, with most believing the shooting was unjustified, or arguing for charges against the involved ICE agent.

Social media data underscores the success of right-leaning influencers in saturating online platforms with their narrative, generating high volumes of content that attract viewers.

Now, navigating social media means encountering a blend of outrage videos and alternative narratives, with justifications of Good’s death and arguments for ICE's justified presence in Minneapolis prominently featured.

This scenario illustrates a significant disparity in 2026 American politics and media: whereas traditional and liberal commentators have shaped parts of the dialogue around ICE and Trump’s immigration policy, they lack the extensive distribution channels that have bolstered right-wing messaging.

Capabilities of Conservative Content Creators

To comprehend the online dynamics and measure the impact of right-wing creators post-January 7, data from Magnitude Media was utilized. This firm tracks the diffusion of assorted political content online.

ICE-critical content from the left initially held the majority in social media discussions regarding immigration. These posts garnered over 110 million interactions, overshadowing right-leaning content which saw 76 million. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram saw significant dominance by left-leaning posts.

According to Carly Evans from Magnitude Media, left-leaning pages received substantially higher engagement concerning immigration topics, although right-leaning pages began narrowing the gap within days.

However, this trend didn't permanently sustain as right-oriented content creators rapidly escalated their efforts, gaining more traction and surpassing left-aligned content in terms of visibility.

Prior to these developments, certain conservative influencers were already active in Minnesota examining purported fraud cases. However, with Good’s incident, many others flocked in, interacting with ICE agents, championing the government's stance, and cataloging intense episodes as the city dealt with increased federal presence.

Challenges for Liberals and the Left

The recent slew of viral ICE content exemplifies the uphill struggle faced by administration critics in countering right-wing social media momentum, driven by both personal and structural factors.

Individual Influencers on the right are adept at appearing where events unfold. They often harbor financial or ideological motives and possess the will to immerse themselves in high-stakes environments—typically supported rather than chastised by political heads.

Structurally, conservative influencers reap benefits from close ties with the administration, receiving support for content creation partnerships or even direct financial backing.

Moreover, logistical access is tilted in favor of these creators. While supportive influencers can join DHS agents for firsthand reporting, the same privileges are withheld from independent or leftist journalists, who instead accompany community activists for on-the-ground narratives.

Financial disparities further exacerbate content reach inequities since liberal news outlets lack comparable funding for widespread dissemination across digital platforms.

Ryan Broderick from Garbage Media, reporting from Minneapolis, highlighted how conservative streamers, funded independently or by wealthy patrons, have a resource edge, sustaining prolonged efforts.

Additionally, there are limited online venues where left-leaning creators can share footage and profit effectively, unlike right-aligned YouTubers who can monetize their content swiftly.

Broderick elaborates on the disadvantage faced by liberal creators when conservative social media accounts alter neutral footage for compelling, albeit distorted, narratives.

Overall, this sits within a broader challenge facing the American left: a lack of resources akin to those available to the right. Without a comparable social media infrastructure, it remains difficult to challenge narratives pushed by Trump and his supporters.

Until anti-Trump entities muster equivalent resources and reach, public discourse will remain saturated with one-sided and manipulated content.

As Broderick states, the current online space doesn't accommodate leftist content to match right-wing production levels due to foundational disparities established over years.