White House officials have distanced President Donald Trump and senior aides from initial portrayals of a man fatally shot by federal agents in Minnesota, following a backlash after video footage appeared to contradict their assertions. The victim, Alex Pretti—reportedly licensed to carry a gun—was shot multiple times in the back after being tackled by border patrol agents, according to widely circulated footage.
Over the weekend, top administration officials including Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff, labelled Pretti a “domestic terrorist who tried to assassinate law enforcement”. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused him of “domestic terrorism”. However, the video showed Pretti was disarmed before being shot roughly ten times, undercutting such claims.
On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sidestepped questions, saying the administration would await investigations. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also backtracked, telling Fox News that nobody compared the incident to the legal definition of domestic terrorism. Separately, Trump held what he called a “very good call” with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, agreeing to consider reducing federal agents in the state and allowing state investigators to conduct an independent probe.
Walz’s office reported that Trump committed to discussing with the Department of Homeland Security how to enable the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate, after the bureau was initially blocked from the scene. Trump also announced he would send border czar Tom Homan to oversee operations in Minneapolis, replacing the local border patrol chief—a move seen as a rebuke to Noem.
Despite the retreat, Leavitt maintained that blame for Pretti’s death lay with Walz and Democrats, citing “deliberate and hostile resistance” to federal enforcement. Privately, administration officials acknowledged the shooting may have been an unintentional error by agents who feared an accidental discharge of Pretti’s gun after it was taken. The incident has eroded support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and border patrol tactics among Republicans in Congress.
