Rand Paul: Trust In Trump Administration Is ‘Without Question’ Broken After Minnesota Border-Patrol Shooting

Sen. Rand Paul (R‑Ky.) told CBS's 60 Minutes that trust in the Trump administration has been fractured "without question" after the federal response to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minnesota.

Paul said he was alarmed by public statements from administration allies — including South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino — who, after video of the incident circulated online, suggested Pretti had committed domestic terrorism or sought to cause "maximum damage." Paul argued the video does not support those characterizations.

"It sounds like terrible judgment...terrible conclusions, incorrect conclusions, stating things that no one else believes," Paul told the program. "You can lie to your heart's content if there's no video. But the video doesn't support what they're saying."

When CBS correspondent Scott Pelley asked whether that meant trust in the administration was broken, Paul replied, "Without question." He also expressed skepticism that the FBI should lead the investigation, saying an independent, outside group might be preferable to a federal-led probe.

Local Cooperation And Protest Tactics

While sharply criticizing the federal government's public messaging, Paul also faulted local leadership. He called Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's refusal to cooperate with federal authorities "a significant part of the problem."

Sen. Rand Paul has called on heads of federal agencies to testify on immigration enforcement.

Paul condemned some protesters' confrontational tactics against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel but defended the right to protest. "If you were my son or daughter, would I tell you to spit on the police? Absolutely not. Would I tell you to yell and scream at them? No. I would tell you to go to a primary and knock on doors...That is the way I would protest. But is it illegal to protest? No," he said.

Oversight And Next Steps

The White House pointed Fox News Digital to President Donald Trump's public call for a thorough inquiry: "We're doing a big investigation. I want to see the investigation. I'm going to be watching over it. I want a very honorable and honest investigation — I have to see it myself."

Paul has asked the leaders of ICE, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee later this month to testify about the incident and the broader enforcement response.

This episode has intensified debate about federal messaging, law-enforcement oversight, and the proper scope of investigations into deadly encounters between federal agents and civilians.