President Donald Trump and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt are publicly distancing themselves from inflammatory statements issued by senior administration officials in the wake of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, by federal agents in Minneapolis, reports Baltimore Chronicle via ABC News. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller quickly labeled Pretti a domestic terrorist following Saturday’s shooting, although no evidence supporting the claim has been provided.
During a Monday briefing, Leavitt was asked by ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce if the president agreed with the accusations. She responded that she had not heard the president describe Pretti in that manner but emphasized that Trump is allowing the ongoing investigation to determine the facts independently.
Trump, in a Wall Street Journal interview on Sunday, declined to comment on whether the federal agents acted appropriately. He stated that his administration is reviewing all aspects of the incident and will issue a determination once the review concludes. Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI are leading the investigation, while Customs and Border Protection is conducting an internal review of the federal agents’ actions, Leavitt confirmed.
In response to the incident, Trump announced he was sending his border czar, Tom Homan, directly to Minnesota, bypassing the typical chain of command. Homan will oversee operations in coordination with local officials, although he has not previously been involved in the area. “He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
Noem, Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino, and FBI Director Kash Patel have publicly defended the federal agents, claiming that Pretti was armed and posed a threat to officers. Noem asserted that Pretti had multiple magazines with the intent to cause harm, which Bovino described as potentially leading to a “massacre.” Patel suggested that carrying a firearm to a protest is illegal. Trump also criticized Pretti for being armed during a protest, calling him a “gunman” in social media posts, though he expressed general disapproval of the shooting itself.
Minnesota state and local officials have stated that Pretti was legally carrying a gun under a concealed carry permit. Video footage reviewed by ABC News appears to show Pretti holding a cell phone, not a gun, during the confrontation with federal agents.
The administration’s response to the shooting has drawn criticism across party lines, including from Democrats, Republicans, and editorial boards of conservative publications like the New York Post and Wall Street Journal. Several Democratic leaders have called for Secretary Noem’s resignation or impeachment. Leavitt defended Noem, stating that Trump maintains “utmost confidence and trust” in her and that she continues to oversee the Department of Homeland Security and national immigration enforcement operations.
Trump spoke with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, describing the call as “very good” and indicating areas of agreement. Walz acknowledged the discussion as productive but noted that disagreements persist, particularly regarding federal officials’ portrayal of the immigration situation in Minneapolis. Walz further criticized federal interventions in an op-ed, asserting that officials are providing misleading information about enforcement in the city.
Late Monday, Trump also spoke with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, calling the conversation positive and noting that Homan would meet with Frey the following day to continue discussions. The White House continues to attribute tensions in Minneapolis to local Democratic leadership. Leavitt said the tragedy occurred due to “deliberate and hostile resistance by Democrat leaders in Minnesota” and emphasized that no one in the White House wants Americans to be harmed, referencing both Pretti and federal law enforcement personnel.
Trump indicated that federal presence in Minnesota could be reduced if local authorities cooperate with ICE operations. Leavitt stated that coordinated enforcement measures would allow ICE and local law enforcement to remove dangerous individuals while minimizing federal involvement, as is the case in other states.
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