The White House has sought to distance itself from initial characterisations of Alex Pretti, the man fatally shot by federal agents in Minnesota, after widely circulated video footage appeared to undermine earlier assertions that he was a gunman. Senior administration officials had described Pretti as a 'domestic terrorist' who tried to assassinate law enforcement, but the video showed him being shot in the back approximately ten times after being tackled and disarmed.
At a briefing on Monday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt sidestepped questions about the remarks, saying she had not heard President Trump describe Pretti in that way and that the administration would await the outcome of investigations. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also attempted to downplay the earlier characterisation, telling Fox News that nobody thought the remarks matched the legal definition of domestic terrorism.
The shift came as Trump advisers recognised that the aggressive portrayal of Pretti had become a political liability, particularly among Republicans on Capitol Hill. President Trump himself appeared to seek an off-ramp, having previously blamed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Democrats for the death. On Monday, Trump announced a 'very good call' with Walz, agreeing to consider reducing federal agents in the state and ensuring an independent investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
The Bureau had complained that federal agents blocked them from accessing the shooting scene, even after obtaining a court order. Trump also said he would send border czar Tom Homan to oversee operations in Minneapolis, replacing the current US border patrol official in charge, Gregory Bovino. The move was seen as a repudiation of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, to whom Bovino reports.
Despite the backtracking, Leavitt maintained that blame for the tragedy rested with Democrat leaders, saying it occurred 'as a result of a deliberate and hostile resistance'. Administration officials privately described the shooting as an unintentional error by agents who feared an accidental discharge of Pretti's gun after it was taken from him.
