MAGA-Aligned Billionaire Contributes to Fundraiser for Slain Minnesota Nurse
Bill Ackman, the prominent hedge fund manager and vocal supporter of Donald Trump's MAGA movement, has donated $10,000 to a GoFundMe campaign established for the family of Alex Pretti. The intensive care unit nurse was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis last Saturday during a confrontation that has sparked national outrage and protests.
Fundraiser Gains Significant Momentum Following Tragic Incident
The online fundraiser has garnered substantial support, accumulating nearly $1.7 million since its creation. Witness videos circulating on social media appear to show Pretti attempting to protect a woman during a clash with a federal agent before being apprehended by over half a dozen officers and shot in the back. The Department of Veterans Affairs employee was reportedly carrying a handgun with two loaded magazines at the time of the encounter.
Ackman's contribution ties him as the second-largest donor to the campaign, surpassed only by healthcare apparel company Figs Scrubs, which contributed $25,000. The billionaire financier has not publicly explained his decision to support Pretti's family, but his donation follows a similar pattern of involvement in controversial cases involving federal law enforcement.
Previous Donation to ICE Agent Raises Questions About Motives
This contribution comes just weeks after Ackman donated to a fundraiser for Jonathan Ross, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent accused of shooting Renee Nicole Good dead in Minneapolis on January 7th. At that time, Ackman took to social media platform X to explain his position, writing 'I am a big believer in our legal principle that one is innocent until proven guilty'.
He further elaborated that he had intended to support Good's family fundraiser as well, but discovered it had been closed by the time he attempted to contribute. 'The whole situation is a tragedy,' Ackman remarked regarding the series of events.
Political Shifts and National Fallout From the Shooting
Ackman, founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, represents an interesting political evolution. Previously a long-time Democratic donor, he has publicly backed Trump during the 2024 campaign cycle and maintains an active presence on X, where he frequently critiques both Democratic and Republican figures, including former President Trump himself.
The shooting has reverberated beyond Minneapolis, affecting national politics and public perception. According to a Daily Mail/JL Partners poll conducted with over 1,000 American voters, 54 percent believe federal law enforcement murdered Pretti, with a margin of error of 3.1 percent. Perhaps more surprisingly, 22 percent of Republican respondents characterized the killing as murder, while just 21 percent of all participants found the shooting justified.
Investigations and Political Responses Underway
The incident has shaken confidence in presidential leadership, prompting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's return to the Southern border while her rival, border czar Tom Homan, oversees operations in Minneapolis. Both Democratic and Republican members of Congress have called for thorough investigations into the shooting.
Customs and Border Protection has initiated an internal investigation, as have local authorities in Minneapolis. There has been no indication yet whether the FBI will launch its own probe into the matter. The tragedy marks the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis within two weeks, following Good's death in early January.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Ackman for additional comment regarding his donation to Pretti's family fundraiser. As the investigations proceed and the political fallout continues, the case highlights deepening divisions in American society regarding law enforcement practices, immigration policies, and the appropriate use of force by federal agents.
