After Alex Pretti was shot by federal agents in Minneapolis, CBP commander-at-large Greg Bovino launched a combative series of posts on X responding to critics across the political spectrum. Bovino pushed back against Republicans such as Sen. Bill Cassidy, Rep. Thomas Massie and Bill Kristol and also targeted CNN anchor Jake Tapper. He singled out prominent Democrats including Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Eric Swalwell as reports surfaced of internal DHS turmoil over messaging after the incident. The exchanges have intensified public scrutiny around the federal response.
CBP Commander Greg Bovino Spars With Lawmakers and Major Anchors on X After Alex Pretti Shooting
In the hours after federal agents shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) commander-at-large Greg Bovino engaged in an extended, combative exchange on X (formerly Twitter), responding to critics across the political spectrum.
Bovino repeatedly answered and pushed back against high-profile Republicans — including Sen. Bill Cassidy, Rep. Thomas Massie and Weekly Standard founder Bill Kristol — as coverage of Pretti’s death dominated the weekend news cycle. He also directed responses at major news figures, among them CNN anchor Jake Tapper.
His online rebuttals were not limited to conservatives. Bovino called out several prominent Democrats who criticized the federal response in Minnesota, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Eric Swalwell.
Context and Fallout
Reports indicate there is internal friction at the Department of Homeland Security over how to handle messaging after the incident. According to accounts of the episode, Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis VA nurse, was pepper-sprayed and pinned by multiple federal agents before he was shot in the street on Saturday.
The social-media exchanges from a senior CBP official have amplified public scrutiny and intensified the political backlash surrounding the federal response in Minnesota. The flurry of posts highlights the intersection of agency communications, political debate and media coverage during a high-profile law-enforcement incident.
Note: Reporting on the incident and internal DHS messaging is ongoing; details and official accounts may evolve.
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