WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump said his administration is “reviewing everything” about the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis over the weekend, while refraining from saying anything about the Border Patrol agent’s actions.
“We’re looking, we’re reviewing everything and will come out with a determination,” the president told the Wall Street Journal on Sunday. Administration officials have continued to publicly defend the officer.
Trump criticized Pretti for carrying a gun during a protest and called out local law enforcement on social media Saturday after the shooting.
“This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about? Where are the local Police?” Trump wrote on Truth Social with a photo of the alleged gun. “Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers? The Mayor and the Governor called them off? It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves — Not an easy thing to do!”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has defended the agent, saying he fired “defensive shots” at Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. His family members confirmed he had a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
Pretty’s family released a statement after the shooting condemning the “sickening lies told about our son by the administration,” calling them “reprehensible and disgusting.”
Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs,” the statement read. “He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.
During his interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump indicated immigration enforcement would eventually be withdrawn from the Minneapolis area as calls for investigations grow.
“At some point we will leave. We’ve done, they’ve done a phenomenal job,” Trump said, but did not provide a timeline for the dismissal.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said at a news conference after the shooting that Pretti’s only previous interaction with law enforcement — as far as he knew — was for traffic tickets.
Drew Evans, who is the superintendent of the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), said the agency obtained a signed warrant, but DHS prevented BCA from accessing the scene.
This undated photo provided by Michael Pretti shows Alex J. Pretti, the man who was shot by a federal officer in Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (Michael Pretti via AP)
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey addressed Trump directly, telling the president to “act like a leader.”
“How many times must local and national leaders plead with you, Donald Trump, that this is not creating safety in our city?” Frey said. “What exactly are you accomplishing? If the goal was to achieve peace and safety, this is doing the opposite.”
Frey also said he was filing a declaration to encourage a judge to grant the city a temporary restraining order to remove federal agents.
Protesters started gathering in the Twin Cities on Jan. 7 after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.
The agent, who has been identified as Jonathan Ross, fired his gun after Good allegedly tried to ram him and other officers with her SUV. Ross reportedly suffered internal bleeding when he was hit by her vehicle.
Eight more Democrats signed on to a resolution on Sunday calling for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, bringing the total number of co-sponsors to 120.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a news conference at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“IMPEACH KRISTI NOEM,” the Democratic Party said on X Sunday.
Noem claimed Pretti approached the Border Patrol officer with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, and as officers attempted to disarm him, Pretti “violently resisted.”
“Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots,” she said in an update on the shooting on Saturday.

















