White House Sends Tom Homan to Minneapolis; Leavitt Says Trump Still Trusts DHS Secretary Noem

Washington — The White House on Monday insisted President Donald Trump still has confidence in Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem even as border czar Tom Homan was dispatched to take the lead in Minneapolis.

Speaking at the White House podium, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described Homan’s deployment as a practical measure, saying Noem was occupied overseeing other federal priorities — including FEMA response to a major winter storm that struck over the weekend.

The White House distanced the president from Sec. Noem accusing 37-year-old Alex Pretti of domestic terrorism after he was shot multiple times and killed by ICE on Saturday. / US Department of Veterans Affairs

“Secretary Noem still has the utmost confidence and trust of the president of the United States, and she is continuing to oversee the entire Department of Homeland Security and all of the immigration enforcement that’s taking place across the entire country,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt added that Noem is coordinating FEMA efforts while Homan — described as able to "drop everything and go" — will serve as the White House point person in Minnesota to work with state and local officials.

President Trump announced Homan’s trip in a post on Truth Social, saying Homan "has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me." The White House framed the move as intended to restore order and improve coordination on the ground.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was very busy as the reason why border czar Tom Homan was being sent to Minnesota on Monday while insisting the president had not lost confidence in Noem. / Win McNamee/Getty Images

News outlets have previously reported tensions between Homan and Noem. The administration, however, emphasized that Homan’s role is temporary and focused on on-the-ground cooperation with Minnesota authorities.

The deployment follows controversy after Secretary Noem publicly called Alex Pretti — a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was shot and killed by federal agents — a domestic terrorist. Video that circulated afterward showed Pretti filming on his phone and appearing to try to help a woman who had been shoved to the ground by armed agents before he was tackled and shot multiple times.

Trump posted on Truth Social that he had spoken to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz after announcing earlier on Monday that he would be sending Tom Homan to Minneapolis after the ICE killing of Alexi Pretti. / Truth Social

Leavitt said the president has not labeled Pretti a domestic terrorist and that the administration wants the official investigation to proceed before drawing conclusions.

Leavitt described Homan as the White House's "point person" tasked with working with state and local leaders to reduce what she called chaos on Minneapolis streets. Governor Tim Walz said his conversation with the president was productive: according to Walz, the two discussed the possibility of reducing the number of federal agents in the state and ensuring Minnesota officials can conduct an independent investigation.

As the federal response unfolds, officials on all sides say they are watching developments closely and that coordination between federal and state authorities remains a priority.