Kristi Noem has publicly framed much of her post-incident messaging as following orders from President Trump and Stephen Miller after broad criticism over federal killings of U.S. citizens. Sources told Axios that Miller pushed rapid messaging suggesting Alex Pretti intended to “massacre” law enforcement; Miller denies originating that narrative and attributes early wording to CBP. Video footage shows Pretti — legally armed — being disarmed and then shot while on the ground, and DHS posted an initial statement to X without full White House sign-off. Noem later met with Trump and Corey Lewandowski as key figures such as Miller and Tom Homan were notably absent.
“ICE Barbie” Kristi Noem Pins Blame on Stephen Miller After Backlash Over Federal Killings
Stephen Miller is widely known to be responsible for the Trump administration's aggressive immigration crackdown. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
South Dakota Governor and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — widely nicknamed “ICE Barbie” — has sought to shift responsibility to senior White House adviser Stephen Miller after intense calls for her dismissal following a fatal encounter involving federal immigration officers, multiple sources told Axios.
What Noem Said
“Everything I’ve done, I’ve done at the direction of the president and Stephen,” Noem reportedly told a source who then relayed the remark to Axios. The comment came as pressure mounted over comments she and other officials made soon after the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Veterans Affairs ICU nurse who was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis.
Kristi Noem said that slain ICU nurse Alex Pretti wanted to
Early Messaging And Competing Accounts
An earlier version of Axios’s reporting linked a controversial claim — that Pretti intended to “massacre law enforcement” — to remarks circulated by Border Patrol senior official Greg Bovino. Several sources told Axios that Stephen Miller pushed to emphasize that Pretti was armed, shaping the initial narrative.
Miller has denied originating the “massacre” language and said the early messaging reflected information sent to the White House by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the agency overseen by DHS. “Any early comments made were based on information sent to the White House through CBP,” he told Axios.
A rosary adorns a framed photo Alex Pretti, who was shot dead by Border Patrol agents. / ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP via Getty Images
Video Footage And Eyewitness Questions
Video of the incident shows Pretti — who was legally carrying a handgun — being tackled by multiple federal agents and disarmed on camera, then shot multiple times while on the ground. The footage, sources say, does not show Pretti brandishing the weapon before agents fired.
According to sources, officers directly involved in the shooting quickly retained lawyers, limiting the information available to officials drafting public statements.
Customs and Border Protection boss Gregory Bovino is due to leave the Twin Cities amid the backlash following the shooting of a U.S. citizen. / Anadolu via Getty Images
Official Statements And Internal Friction
The Department of Homeland Security posted a statement to X roughly three hours after the shooting; Axios reports the release went out without full White House sign-off. “Others within the White House attempted to clean up the DHS statement prior to it being sent but it had already been disseminated,” a source told the outlet.
Miller later called Pretti an “assassin” in an X post that was reshared by Vice President J.D. Vance. Noem and now-ousted Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino used similar, charged language at public events.
Aftermath And Meetings
The New York Times reported that Noem met at the White House with former President Donald Trump and her de facto chief of staff, Corey Lewandowski, to discuss the fallout. Notably absent from the meeting were Miller and Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan, who had been sent to Minneapolis in response to the shooting.
Sources told Axios Noem has been emphasizing that many of her actions and messaging followed direction from higher-ranking officials as she navigates internal criticism and calls for her removal.
Responses And Official Comments
The Daily Beast and other outlets sought comment from the White House. When asked, DHS provided a statement saying in part: “We have seen a highly coordinated campaign of violence against our law enforcement. This individual committed a federal crime while armed as he obstructed an active law enforcement operation. As with any situation that is evolving, we work to give swift, accurate information to the American people as more information becomes available.”
Note: This article reflects reporting from Axios, the Daily Beast and the New York Times. Some details remain under dispute and are based on anonymous sources; video footage and official records are still being examined.
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