Why ex-Minnesota Gov. and WWE legend Jesse Ventura believes the US is now a ‘third world country’

Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura has described the United States as a “third world country,” citing what he sees as the growing militarization of law enforcement and erosion of constitutional norms, following a confrontation involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Minnesota.

Ventura’s remarks came amid heightened public anger after the killing of a 37-year-old mother, Renee Nicole Good, during an ICE operation and a separate incident at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, where federal officers reportedly used pepper spray and detained a worker. The events triggered protests across the Twin Cities, which Ventura praised. “I’m proud” of the protesters, Ventura, who visited Roosevelt High School, told FOX 9, adding that they “stood up for what is supposed to be America and freedom,” while sharply criticizing the Trump administration.

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Ventura, 74, a single-term governor who chose not to seek re-election in 2003 and a former WWE star known as Jesse “The Body” Ventura. “Good for these people who stood up,” Ventura said to the outlet. “They’re teaching their students something: that we are a country, we have to be a country of law and a country of the Constitution. They’re all forgetting about the Constitution of the United States of America. We don’t even have it anymore. After January 6th, are you kidding me?”

Why Ventura used the ‘third world country’ comparison

Ventura explained that his use of the phrase was rooted in his belief that the presence of federal forces in civilian spaces mirrors conditions he has seen abroad.

“You wanna know something? I’ll give you a quote. We’re a third-world country now. You wanna know why? I’m an expert; I’ve been to one. I spent 17 months in Southeast Asia while the draft dodger was playing golf. You know how I know we’re a third-world country? Because in third-world countries, they have the military doing police work in the cities while you walk around,” he said, as quoted by the New York Post.


In Ventura’s view, the deployment of heavily armed federal agents in schools and city neighborhoods reflects a breakdown in democratic norms and civilian policing standards.