President Trump blamed Democratic officials for "chaos" after a federal immigration officer fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti during a Minneapolis protest, and urged Minnesota leaders to hand over immigrants for deportation. He said his administration is "reviewing everything" but declined to say whether the officer acted appropriately. Senior White House aides defended the officers and blamed local leaders, while some Republicans called for deeper investigation. The incident has intensified debate over immigration enforcement and raised the prospect of a partial government shutdown over related funding.
Trump Blames Democrats for 'Chaos' After Minneapolis Protester Killed, Calls For Deportations and Sanctuary City Ban
President Donald Trump, left, is greeted by Air Force Col. Christopher M. Robinson, commander of the 89th Airlift Wing, right, after walking down the stairs of Air Force One, upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, after returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.(AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The fatal shooting of 37-year-old protester Alex Pretti by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis has ignited a national controversy, prompting renewed debate over the administration’s immigration enforcement tactics and raising concerns among some Republicans.
After staying relatively quiet on Saturday, President Donald Trump returned Sunday night with two lengthy posts on his Truth Social network, accusing Democratic officials of encouraging obstruction of law enforcement and urging Minnesota leaders to cooperate with federal immigration officers and "turn over" anyone in the U.S. illegally.
“Tragically, two American Citizens have lost their lives as a result of this Democrat ensued chaos,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said his administration was "reviewing everything," but he declined to say whether the immigration officer who shot Pretti had acted appropriately. "We’re looking, we’re reviewing everything and will come out with a determination," he told the Journal.
The White House would not confirm whether the president had viewed video footage of the shooting that appears to contradict the administration’s initial account. Nor did officials say whether Trump planned to speak with Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who appealed to the president for assistance calming the city after the incident.
Push For Policy Changes
Rather than de-escalate, Trump used the incident to press for legislative action. He said Sunday night he would ask Congress to pass a law banning so-called sanctuary cities—jurisdictions the administration deems insufficiently cooperative with federal immigration enforcement—and urged Minnesota officials to hand over for deportation anyone held in state prisons or local jails who is in the U.S. illegally, or who has outstanding warrants or a criminal history.
His firm stance comes amid growing unease among some GOP lawmakers over the scope and tactics of what the president describes as the largest deportation program in history, and as the deployment of immigration officers to heavily Democratic cities has drawn criticism.
Political Reactions And Messaging
Administration allies quickly defended the officers involved. Deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller posted on social media—without providing evidence—that Pretti was "an assassin" who "tried to murder federal agents." Vice President J.D. Vance amplified that messaging, blaming local leaders and calling the unrest "engineered chaos" by "far left agitators, working with local authorities."
Throughout the weekend Trump largely refrained from public appearances or expressions of public sorrow about Pretti’s death, instead posting about other matters including a lawsuit over his planned White House ballroom and comments about Canada and U.K. troops. When he addressed the shooting, he criticized Pretti for carrying a firearm: "I don’t like any shooting. I don’t like it. But I don’t like it when somebody goes into a protest and he’s got a very powerful, fully loaded gun..."
The episode has heightened tensions in Washington: outrage over the shooting increases pressure around a separate budget fight and raises the prospect of a partial government shutdown over a standoff about additional funding for immigration enforcement.
What’s Next
The administration says it is reviewing the incident. Lawmakers, local officials and civil rights advocates are demanding answers about the facts surrounding the shooting, whether federal agents followed procedures, and what oversight will be applied to federal immigration enforcement operations in U.S. cities.
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