DNC Chair Ken Martin Stands by Comparing Trump-Era U.S. to Iran as GOP Allies Call Remarks 'Unhinged' and 'Worthless Piece of Crap'
DNC Chair Ken Martin defended a social post likening the U.S. under former President Trump to Iran’s theocratic regime — framing "Tehran to Minneapolis" as shared systems that "wield violence without accountability" and tying protests over the Renee Good shooting to protests against Iran’s clerical regime — and said he would wear Sen. Lindsey Graham’s condemnation "as a badge of honor." Republican allies blasted the remarks, with an RNC spokesperson calling Martin "unhinged," Graham calling him a "worthless piece of crap," and RNC press secretary Kiersten Pels accusing him of encouraging obstruction, while a DNC source and an anonymous committee member said party officials largely supported the "general gist" of his comments.
📌 Key Facts
- DNC Chair Ken Martin posted on X comparing the U.S. under Trump to Iran’s theocratic regime, framing “Tehran to Minneapolis” as shared “systems that wield violence without accountability” and linking protests over the Renee Good shooting to protests against Iran’s clerical regime.
- Fox News reproduced Martin’s original social post in fuller context, highlighting the explicit tie between the Minneapolis protests and those against Iran’s clerical leadership.
- Republican officials sharply denounced Martin: an RNC spokesperson called him “unhinged,” and RNC press secretary Kiersten Pels accused him of a “desperate ploy” that encourages violent obstruction of federal law enforcement.
- Sen. Lindsey Graham, on Fox’s Hannity, called Martin “a worthless piece of crap” and told him to “go to hell” for equating Trump’s America with Iran’s ayatollahs.
- Martin responded to Graham by labeling him “a sniveling coward and a Trump bootlicker,” saying he would wear Graham’s condemnation “as a badge of honor.”
- A DNC source told Fox that “everyone is supporting the general gist” of Martin’s remarks; an anonymous DNC committee member added colleagues were giving him a pass because he is from Minnesota and described his comments as “very raw, very personal, and very hurtful.”
- Coverage noted broader context: President Trump had threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota if state leaders did not curb what he called “professional agitators and insurrectionists” attacking ICE, which helps explain the backdrop for Martin’s comparison.
📊 Relevant Data
As of the 2020 Census, the racial composition of Minneapolis was 58.1% non-Hispanic White, 18.9% Black or African American, 10.4% Hispanic or Latino, 5.8% Asian or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 1.2% American Indian, and 0.5% some other race.
Demographics of Minneapolis - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
Somali refugees began immigrating to Minnesota in the early 1990s due to the collapse of the Somali government and resulting civil war, with many resettled by voluntary agencies contracted with the U.S. State Department, attracted by job opportunities in meat-packing and hospitality industries.
How Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants in the U.S. : NPR — NPR
In 2025, 32 people died in ICE custody, marking the deadliest year for the agency in more than two decades.
From January 2025 to early January 2026, there were 16 shooting incidents involving ICE agents, resulting in 4 deaths and at least 7 injuries.
US immigration agents shot at people 16 times under Trump’s crackdown | US immigration | The Guardian — The Guardian
The 2025–2026 Iranian protests involve significant participation from ethnic minorities such as Kurds, Azeri Turks, Baluch, and Lurs, with protests spreading to provinces with higher ethnic minority populations.
Iran protests 2026: our surveys show Iranians agree more on regime change than what might come next — The Conversation
The Insurrection Act was last invoked in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush to address riots in Los Angeles following the Rodney King verdict.
The Insurrection Act, Explained | Brennan Center for Justice — Brennan Center for Justice
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- An RNC spokesperson publicly labeled Martin 'unhinged' for comparing the U.S. under Trump to Iran’s theocratic regime.
- A DNC source told Fox that 'everyone is supporting the general gist' of what Martin said, indicating internal backing rather than distancing.
- The article reprises Martin’s X post in fuller context, explicitly tying his comparison to protests over the Renee Good shooting and protests against Iran’s clerical regime.
- The story restates that Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota if state leaders do not curb what he calls 'professional agitators and insurrectionists' attacking ICE.
- Details Martin’s original social post framing 'Tehran to Minneapolis' as shared 'systems that wield violence without accountability,' explicitly tying the Iran protests and Minneapolis ICE shooting together.
- Reports Sen. Lindsey Graham calling Martin a 'worthless piece of crap' on Fox’s 'Hannity' and telling him to 'go to hell' for comparing Trump’s U.S. to Iran’s ayatollahs.
- Includes Martin’s response labeling Graham 'a sniveling coward and a Trump bootlicker' and saying he will wear Graham’s condemnation 'as a badge of honor.'
- Quotes an anonymous DNC committee member saying 'everyone is giving Ken a pass because he is from Minnesota' and describing his reaction as 'very raw, very personal, and very hurtful.'
- Adds RNC press secretary Kiersten Pels’ statement accusing Martin of a 'desperate ploy' and 'encouraging violent obstruction of federal law enforcement.'