Ben Leo thanks GB News fans for support as he speaks out after fiery confrontation with anti-ICE protestor goes viral

Ben Leo has assured fans he is "fine and safe" after finding himself on the receiving end of threatening abuse from angry anti-Ice demonstrators in the USA.

The People's Channel presenter headed to an Ice detention centre in New Jersey over the weekend to speak with demonstrators when two men became particularly animated.

Ben was speaking to one member of the public about government statistics regarding crime rates among illegal arrivals in the US when he was confronted by another protester nearby.

The demonstrator began angrily shouting at Ben about the British Empire before his rhetoric quickly veered towards violence.

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When Ben pointed out he was being spat on as a result of the man's yelling, the demonstrator fumed: "Do something about it! Then do something about it, Brit!"

"I'm here to ask questions," Ben calmly responded before asking the man: "Why are you getting so angry?"

"Because you're a piece of s**t! You're a liar!" the anti-Ice demonstrator continued to yell.

The intensity of the confrontation went up another gear when Ben asked the man, who continued to yell about the British Empire, why he was shaking.

"Because my f***ing adrenaline's going and I'm doing everything in my power not to break your f***ing jaw," he screeched.

"Well, you can do it, but you'll get arrested," Ben calmly responded.

At this point, some of the man's fellow protestors felt he may need calming down, but the insults continued to be hurled.

"I don't give a f***, I came out here for this s***," he screamed at Ben. "I didn't come out here to f***ing talk!"

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"For violence?" a composed Ben asked, to which the angry man confirmed.

"That is the degenerate, violent left," Ben said with a smile to the camera while the ill-tempered man continued to shout and yell.

"Start it, I'm gonna finish it! Start it, I'm gonna finish it! Start it, I'm gonna finish it!" the demonstrator spewed, only for a measured Ben to respond: "Wish you would, my friend."

"How did you get here?" a separate protestor then interjected in an attempt to put Ben on the spot, only for The People's Channel star to simply respond: "Aeroplane."

Not content with his rather embarrassing display, the man returned to Ben for a second exchange but once again failed to unnerve the cool and collected reporter.

Clips of the row have since gone viral on social media, racking up over a million views on X alone.

After fans reached out upon seeing such hostility and threatening behaviour exhibited towards Ben, the GB News star has now taken to Instagram to assure fans he's doing well.

"Good morning! Thank you all for your messages asking how I am," he penned alongside a selfie on Instagram.

"I'm fine thank you... and safe! Have a few days off now after a long run of shows. Appreciate the shout outs x." (sic)

Among the shout-outs were several members of the GB News family who applauded Ben for remaining so professional in the face of such vitriol.

"Well done @benleo… guy was a big mouth loser. Not sure I could have stayed so calm," panellist Adam Brooks commented on X while Nana Akua branded Ben "brave".

Alex Armstrong weighed in: "You are an absolute legend @Benleo. This is what fearless journalism looks like.

"It’s never easy reporting the truth and being confronted by these types of people. Masterclass by Ben."

"God bless @Benleo, what a legend. Stay safe, my friend," comedian Paul Cox added, while commentator Paula London said: "@Benleo is amazing and I’ve loved working with him. He has seen a lot, so not a lot shakes him."

Elsewhere, podcaster Andrew Gold commented: "Airplane! Amazing how quickly they revert to ‘go back to your country’! Love @Benleo. Shame he’s an Arsenal fan."

"A masterclass in composure," author Jake Wallis Simons typed, while podcast host Winston Marshall praised: "Ben does a remarkable job exposing the derangement of the far-left."

Ben Leo shows more courage and composure here than the entire Tory / Labour uniparty put together over the last decade.

If only our political class had this sort of bravery Britain would not be where it is now.
pic.twitter.com/6MZs9bjMo6

— Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) May 31, 2026

Reform UK's Zia Yusuf even spotted the exchange, and similarly complimented Ben on his professionalism.

"Ben Leo shows more courage and composure here than the entire Tory / Labour uniparty put together over the last decade," Mr Yusuf penned.

"If only our political class had this sort of bravery Britain would not be where it is now." (sic)

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