News/Commentary

Former DC officer from Jan 6 Michael Fanone says: Time for Americans to exercise Second Amendment rights against ICE

January 12, 2026 | | Print Article

Former D.C. police officer Michael Fanone came under fire for his call to Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights in standing against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

Fanone, who has been loud and clear about the so-called insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, where he was injured, now seems to have no problem calling for armed attacks on law enforcement. His comments on The Lincoln Square’s “Protect and Serve” podcast earned Fanone a heavy load of backlash and even had Democrat Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker dismissing his call to action.

“So these politicians and these local, state, and municipal law enforcement agencies need to wake the f*ck up,” Fanone told host Mara May. “I appreciate the foul language coming out of the mouth of the mayor of Minneapolis, and I think that he, his sentiment in the moment, was appropriate.”

“I don’t need to hear from the chief of police that we all need to remain calm and protest peacefully. F*ck you and f*ck that,” he continued.

“What are you doing to keep me safe? What are you doing to keep my mother safe, my sister safe, my community safe from these thugs? That’s what I need to hear coming out of these agents or these officers,” the former officer added. “Because if you’re not going to do it, then it’s time for the American people to organize and to utilize their Second Amendment right to protect themselves from what has clearly become an unaccountable and lawless agency that’s killing Americans.”

CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Pritzker about the comments during a “State of the Union” interview with the governor.

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“Well, violence is inappropriate in all of these situations,” Pritzker said. “And indeed, I’ve told the protesters — who are, in fact, the vast majority are peaceful protesters — keep the violence out of it. Make sure you‘re peacefully protesting, be loud for America, but make sure you’re not providing any excuse for the administration to try to send in the National Guard.”

“We’ve won in our cases, but it’s in part because we haven’t created any situations in which an insurrection or rebellion looks like it’s taking place,” Pritzker continued, referring to lawsuits to prevent National Guard troops from being sent to the state.

“Our protesters are doing the right thing, and we shouldn’t have any talk of people bringing guns and matching force by civilians with law enforcement. What we need is for law enforcement at the federal level to back off, do their job, follow the protocols, do the right thing,” he said.

But Fanone generated more heated responses from many, like former senior advisor to the Trump 2024 campaign, Bryan Lanza, who told Tapper the comments were “despicable.”

“CNN’s favorite policeman, Michael Fanone. He’s talking about, you know, people using guns against ICE enforcement to deal with these situations. All that’s happening on the left is truly an escalation. I think it needs to stop,” Lanza said. “He’s literally asking for a confrontation with law enforcement and citizens — a gun exchange.”

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There was plenty of agreement on social media.

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Frieda Powers
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