Trump says government will de-escalate in Minnesota after Pretti shooting
President Donald Trump has said his administration will “de-escalate a little bit” in Minnesota following the Pretti shooting, the second fatal incident involving federal immigration officers in the state this month.
Speaking in a Fox News interview on Tuesday, Trump described the deaths as “terrible” and acknowledged growing public concern after Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, was shot and killed during a confrontation with border agents over the weekend. His death came just weeks after Renee Good, another US citizen, was fatally shot during an immigration enforcement operation in early January.
The Pretti shooting sparked renewed protests in Minneapolis and across the country, intensifying scrutiny of federal immigration tactics and prompting criticism from lawmakers in both parties. Trump’s remarks mark the clearest indication yet that his administration may scale back its operations in Minnesota.
Ahead of a campaign rally in Iowa later Tuesday, Trump told reporters that Pretti’s killing was “a very unfortunate incident,” while distancing himself from claims made by senior officials that Pretti was a “domestic terrorist.” Asked about those descriptions, Trump said he was not aware of them, before adding that Pretti “shouldn’t have been carrying a gun.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem previously said Pretti was “brandishing” a firearm and accused him of attempting to incite violence. The Department of Homeland Security said agents fired in self-defence after Pretti resisted efforts to disarm him.
Local authorities and eyewitnesses have disputed that account, saying Pretti was holding a phone, not a weapon, at the time he was shot. Officials also said his firearm was legally registered and had been removed before the shooting occurred.
A preliminary report by US Customs and Border Protection appears to contradict the initial DHS narrative. According to a copy seen by CBS News, the report states that two agents fired their weapons but does not indicate that Pretti was reaching for his gun.
In response to mounting backlash, DHS removed the Minnesota mission’s leader, Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino, from the state on Monday. The department said White House border adviser Tom Homan would take over operations.
Homan later said he had met with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and local law enforcement officials, as calls grew louder for federal immigration agents to be withdrawn from the region.
Despite acknowledging the controversy surrounding the Pretti shooting, Trump defended the broader enforcement effort, saying thousands of “hardened criminals” had been removed from Minnesota and claiming the operation had contributed to lower crime rates.
Stephen Miller, a senior White House aide overseeing deportation policy, told CNN that the administration was reviewing whether federal agents followed established protocols during the incident. He said guidance had been issued to ensure additional personnel were used for protection rather than confrontation.
Several Republican officials have joined Democrats in calling for a full investigation into the Pretti shooting. US Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska said the incident was “horrifying,” while reaffirming his support for immigration enforcement funding and urging transparency and accountability.
A federal judge has since ordered DHS to preserve all evidence related to the shooting.
At his Iowa rally, Trump avoided discussing Minnesota in detail, instead highlighting his administration’s immigration policies and citing polling data suggesting strong public support for deporting undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
As protests continue and investigations unfold, the Pretti shooting has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement, federal authority and the use of force against US citizens.
