Anti-ICE protesters targeting federal agents at a Minnesota hotel got a cheeky response they weren’t expecting when a hotel guest pressed his bare backside against a window, delivering a crude but unmistakable message before local police broke up what authorities deemed a violent demonstration.
Story Snapshot
- Hotel guest mooned anti-ICE protesters outside SpringHill Suites in Maple Grove, Minnesota, on January 26, 2026, capturing the moment on viral video
- Demonstrators targeted the hotel believing Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and other federal agents were lodged inside during Operation Metro Surge enforcement
- Local police declared the protest “no longer peaceful” and made multiple arrests as tensions escalated outside the Marriott property
- The incident follows weeks of violent anti-ICE demonstrations sparked by controversial shootings involving federal agents in Minneapolis
Mooning Incident Captures National Attention
The brazen display occurred Monday evening outside the SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Maple Grove, where anti-ICE activists assembled believing federal immigration enforcement agents were staying. Video captured the moment a man inside the hotel pressed his bare buttocks against a window facing the crowd below, accompanied by friends who quickly stepped away from the spectacle. The unidentified individual then flipped off protesters before disappearing from view. TMZ obtained exclusive footage showing the crude counter-protest, which quickly went viral as Americans debated the appropriateness of both the mooning and the underlying demonstration targeting law enforcement officials.
Federal Enforcement Triggers Sustained Unrest
The hotel protest represents the latest flashpoint in escalating confrontations between anti-ICE activists and federal authorities conducting Operation Metro Surge across Minnesota. President Trump’s administration deployed thousands of ICE and DHS agents to the Minneapolis area starting in late 2025 for immigration enforcement raids and detentions. The operation intensified following non-cooperation from state and local officials, creating a rift between federal law enforcement and Minnesota’s Democratic leadership. Governor Tim Walz condemned what he termed federal overreach, placing National Guard units on standby while refusing to coordinate with immigration enforcement efforts.
Deadly Shootings Fuel Protester Anger
Demonstrators cite recent fatal shootings by federal agents as justification for their aggressive tactics. ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Good in early January 2026, triggering immediate protests nationwide. Days later, DHS agents killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, in a Minneapolis street shooting. The Trump administration labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist,” a designation his family vehemently disputes as “sickening lies.” These incidents galvanized opposition to federal immigration enforcement, culminating in Minnesota’s January 23 general strike—the first such action in America in 80 years. Thousands rallied in subzero temperatures demanding ICE withdrawal and agent accountability, with hundreds of businesses closing and clergy arrested at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
Police Assert Independence From Federal Operations
Maple Grove police dispersed the hotel crowd after determining the protest threatened public safety, making multiple arrests as demonstrators refused to leave. Local law enforcement officials emphasized their actions served community safety interests independent of federal immigration enforcement. This contradicts Vice President Vance’s claims during a Minnesota visit that local police requested federal assistance. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and police leadership maintain they have not coordinated with ICE operations, prioritizing constitutional policing over what they characterize as federal profiling tactics. The disconnect highlights the widening gap between Trump administration enforcement priorities and blue-state resistance to immigration crackdowns that many conservatives view as long overdue.
FULL MOON: Minneapolis Anti-ICE Protesters Get MOONED from Inside ICE Hotel in Minnesota as Local Police Handle Violent Crowd (VIDEO) https://t.co/z0N7gcdhkR
— The Gateway Pundit (@gatewaypundit) January 27, 2026
The DHS has neither confirmed nor denied whether Gregory Bovino or other federal agents were actually staying at the SpringHill Suites, though protesters clearly believed the hotel housed enforcement personnel. The mooning incident, while juvenile, underscores growing frustration among everyday Americans watching violent mobs target law enforcement officials simply trying to enforce immigration laws. As ICE operations continue despite sustained protests, the cultural divide between those demanding border security and those obstructing federal enforcement shows no signs of resolution.
Sources:
Man Moons Anti-ICE Protesters From Hotel Window, on Video – TMZ
2026 Minnesota general strike – Wikipedia
