Jesse Ventura Calls Donald Trump A ‘Draft Dodging Coward,’ Says He Might Consider Running For Governor Again

Jesse Ventura speaks following ICE incident in Minnesota.

There was a confrontation at Roosevelt High School in Minnesota involving ICE where federal officers reportedly deployed pepper spray and detained a worker.

Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura visited the school and spoke to FOX 9 about the incident and current climate.

“Good for these people who stood up,” said Ventura. “They’re teaching their students something, that we are a country, we have to be a country of law and a country of the Constitution. They’re all forgetting about the Constitution of the United States of America. We don’t even have it anymore. After January 6th, are you kidding me?”

Ventura called the US a “third world country” in his comments.

Ventura hinted at possibly running for governor again, “You know what? Maybe it’s time for Jesse. I only did one term. I’m owed a second.”

Ventura then took aim at the President, and fellow WWE Hall of Famer, Donald Trump.

“I spent 17 months in Southeast Asia while the draft-dodging coward was playing golf,” Ventura said. “Most of my friends and I are Vietnam veterans. The rich white boys never had to go, did they? Yet he’s going to tell me what courage is?”

Jesse Ventura responds to Minneapolis ICE shooting, says he may run for Governor again:

"We're a 3rd world country now!"

He calls Trump a "rich white boy" & asks if Sec. Noem has "ever met a person of color."pic.twitter.com/RTTYavCKuM

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 8, 2026

DHS released the following statement on the incident at Roosevelt:

“On January 7, Border Patrol agents were conducting immigration enforcement operations in the Minneapolis area when a U.S. Citizen was actively trying to impede operations. The subject proceeded to escalate his actions into violence and rammed his vehicle into a government vehicle. The subject began a 5-mile chase, putting the public and children in danger by running red lights, driving into oncoming traffic, and dangerously driving into a school zone where he finally decided to stop. At no point was a school, students, or staff targeted, and agents would not have been near this location if not for the dangerous actions of this individual.

“While the subject was being removed from his vehicle, an individual who identified himself as a teacher proceeded to assault a border patrol agent. While this was happening, a crowd began to form and grow — rioters threw objects and dispersed paint on the officers and their vehicles. Despite repeated warnings to cease, the crowd continued with their hostilities and assaults. Officers used targeted crowd control for the safety of law enforcement and the public. No tear gas was deployed.”