Bill Ackman has shared his reasoning for contributing $10,000 to a GoFundMe in support of ICE agent Jonathan Ross, involved in the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good.
The incident occurred on January 7 in Minneapolis, where the 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was shot by Ross. The Trump administration labeled her a ‘domestic terrorist,’ claiming Renee attempted to harm the ICE officer.
However, video evidence has emerged, contradicting this narrative by showing Renee trying to leave the scene as Ross fired three shots at her.
In the wake of the incident, a GoFundMe was launched for Jonathan Ross, with Bill Ackman— a billionaire hedge fund manager and the founder of Pershing Square Capital Management—making a notable donation of $10,000.
Ackman clarified that he did not conduct any thorough research on the incident before making his financial contribution.
He wrote on X: “My donation to Ross has been characterised in social media by the press as my ‘giving a reward to the murderer of Renee Good’ likely in an effort to generate clicks and boost virality, and by some to advance their political objectives.”
I have been widely reviled (and worse) by many on social and mainstream media for giving $10,000 to a @gofundme for Jonathan Ross, the officer who tragically killed Renee Good. [I had also attempted to support the gofundme for Renee Good’s family, but it was already closed as it…
— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) January 13, 2026
Since making the large donation, Ackman mentioned experiencing backlash both from social media and mainstream outlets. He also attempted to donate to a fundraiser for Renee.
Ackman further explained: “My purpose in supporting Ross and attempting to support Good was not to make a political statement. I was simply continuing my longstanding commitment to assisting those accused of crimes of providing for their defense.”
He noted that ‘only a detailed forensic investigation by experts’ could accurately determine the events of that day and stated the donation was intended to ensure Ross and his family had the necessary resources for legal defense.
Ackman critically addressed how the ‘social media era’ influences public perceptions of guilt, emphasizing, “In a typical case, the entire world believes you are guilty. You quickly become unemployed and unemployable. You and your family suffer from extreme public scorn in addition to severe financial pressure.”
He added, “You are immediately doxed. You receive hundreds of death threats.”
“You and your family’s safety is seriously threatened, some of your friends and family abandon you, and your public life basically ends while you wait years to have an opportunity to defend yourself in court.”