Fox Host Applauds ICE Assault on Democratic Candidate

The debate over political violence took a disturbing turn Friday night when Fox News host Laura Ingraham openly praised an ICE agent for slamming a young Democratic congressional candidate to the ground outside a federal detention center.

During her primetime broadcast of The Ingraham Angle, the 62-year-old conservative firebrand played footage of Illinois candidate Kat Abughazaleh being violently tackled at a protest in Broadview. Instead of condemning the act, Ingraham smirked and remarked, “Good work.”

The clip showed Abughazaleh, 26, a progressive challenger in Illinois’s 9th district and a former journalist for Media Matters, standing with demonstrators outside an ICE facility before an officer suddenly dragged her down. The candidate later revealed she had bruises and minor injuries.

This is what it looks like when ICE violates our First Amendment rights. pic.twitter.com/EneI3BAkPF

— Kat Abughazaleh (@KatAbughazaleh) September 19, 2025

“This is what it looks like when ICE violates our First Amendment rights,” Abughazaleh wrote on X, posting her own video of the takedown.

Her campaign confirmed she was treated for injuries, while fellow protesters—including Democratic frontrunner Daniel Biss—were also tear-gassed. “We were there to demand accountability from ICE,” Biss told local reporters. “What happened to Kat should horrify anyone who believes in democracy.”

Double Standard on Political Violence

Ingraham’s comments came the same week Attorney General Pam Bondi declared, “That era is over” when it comes to the left “normalizing threats and political violence.” Critics quickly pointed out the hypocrisy of Republican leaders condemning rhetoric from Democrats while figures on the right openly cheer violent acts committed by federal agents.

Conservative activist Laura Loomer echoed Ingraham’s sentiment on social media, writing, “I love watching communists get body slammed by ICE.”

“This isn’t just a dog whistle, it’s a bullhorn,” said Northwestern University political scientist Dr. Elena Marquez. “When powerful media personalities and influencers condone brutality, it emboldens state violence against political opponents.”

A Media Firestorm

The incident comes amid broader questions about how the Trump administration and its allies are using regulatory power to silence dissenting media voices. On Wednesday, ABC abruptly suspended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after FCC chairman Brendan Carr threatened the network’s license over a monologue critical of conservatives.

“ABC caved under pressure from Trump’s FCC, while Fox is allowed to broadcast open encouragement of violence against Democratic candidates,” said free press advocate Jamal Brown. “The double standard couldn’t be clearer.”

Fox itself has faced repeated scrutiny for reckless rhetoric. Just days after the assassination of far-right activist Charlie Kirk earlier this month, host Brian Kilmeade suggested the government should “kill” homeless people. He later apologized, but faced no suspension.

Abughazaleh’s Campaign Shifts

Abughazaleh’s candidacy, once struggling with name recognition—just 36% of voters knew her name in a June poll—has suddenly been thrust into the national spotlight. Her campaign insists that Friday’s violence has only energized supporters.

“What happened was terrifying,” Abughazaleh said in a brief statement Saturday. “But it also shows exactly why I’m running. We cannot allow Trump’s America to treat dissent like a crime.”

Political strategists say the viral video may reshape the race. “Being attacked on camera and then mocked on Fox News turns her into a symbol,” noted Chicago-based analyst Terrence Holbrook. “Democratic voters may rally behind her precisely because of this.”

The Illinois primary is scheduled for early 2026, with Abughazaleh trailing Biss but now emerging as the face of progressive resistance against both ICE and Trump’s broader crackdown on dissent.

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