The Free Press, founded by Bari Weiss, published a forceful editorial accusing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other Trump administration officials of misrepresenting the fatal Minneapolis shooting of Alex Pretti. The outlet disputes Noem’s claim that Pretti "brandished" a gun and violently resisted, saying multiple videos show a different sequence. The editorial argues the administration may be using social division as a political tactic — a strategy it calls "cynical, sinister, and un-American" — and warns this approach could backfire politically.
Bari Weiss’s Free Press Slams Kristi Noem: ‘Cynical, Sinister, and Un-American’ Over Minneapolis Shooting Claims
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spoke at the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Washington, D.C., on January 24, 2026, addressing a major winter storm and the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis.
The Free Press, the right-leaning outlet founded by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, published a blistering editorial titled "Kristi Noem’s Reckless Lies," challenging the administration's account of the incident and arguing that available video evidence contradicts official statements.
Editorial Challenges Officials' Version
The editorial quotes Noem’s public description of the encounter — that Pretti was "brandishing" a firearm, "impeded the law enforcement officers and attacked them," and "violently resisted" when agents attempted to disarm him, prompting an agent to fire in self-defense. The Free Press says Noem has stuck to that narrative despite what the outlet calls multiple videos showing a different sequence of events.
"So why is Noem lying?" the editorial asks. The piece argues that, rather than acknowledge the need for a full investigation and express regret for a death, Noem and other senior officials have offered a fixed account that does not match the footage.
Politics, Division, and the News Media
The editorial contends the Trump administration appears to treat social division as a political advantage. It suggests some Republican operatives may be using a strategy that amplifies fear among the MAGA base to drive turnout ahead of midterm elections. The Free Press calls that approach "a cynical, sinister, and un-American gambit," and warns it may be politically counterproductive, citing public backlash to aggressive deportation policies and federal tactics.
The piece contrasts The Free Press's critique with remarks by the president, who earlier called the killing of another individual, Good, a "tragedy" and acknowledged that ICE officers can make mistakes — a response the editorial says Noem could have mirrored to defuse tensions and await investigative findings.
Independent analysis by ACBS News is cited, with the outlet reporting a "sharp contrast between what Trump officials say and what video shows," further fueling calls for transparency and accountability.
Bottom line: The Free Press editorial demands clearer answers about the Minneapolis shooting, questions the integrity of senior officials’ public statements, and warns that governing by stoking social divisions risks both moral and political fallout.
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