In a Daily Mail interview, Vice President JD Vance asked 'For what?' when pressed about apologizing to the family of Alex Pretti after he had amplified claims that Pretti was an 'assassin.' Vance repeated that Pretti arrived 'with ill intent' despite no evidence of an ICE protest and before investigations concluded. Hours after Pretti’s death, Trump allies circulated inflammatory but disputed claims—contradicted by eyewitness accounts and video—while investigators continue to review the case.
‘For What?’: VP JD Vance Dismisses Apology Question After Amplifying Smears About Alex Pretti
Vice President JD Vance faced pointed questions in an interview with The Daily Mail’s Philip Nieto when asked whether he planned to apologize to the family of Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse who was shot and killed by federal immigration agents.
Nieto asked, 'Have you apologized, did you plan to apologize to the family of Alex Pretti?' Vance replied, 'For what?' — a response that drew immediate attention for its bluntness and apparent dismissal of the premise of the question.
Nieto followed up: 'For, you know, labeling him an assassin with ill intent.' Vance reiterated his prior description of Pretti as 'a guy who showed up with ill intent to an ICE protest,' even though there is no evidence that such a protest occurred and Vance has no way of knowing Pretti’s private intentions.
When Nieto asked whether Vance would apologize if an FBI investigation found civil-rights violations, Vance dismissed the scenario as hypothetical, saying investigators should be allowed to determine the facts and that it would be unwise to prejudge the investigation.
Context and controversy: The exchange came amid criticism of early public statements by allies of former President Donald Trump and some officials. Hours after Pretti’s death, figures including White House adviser Stephen Miller labeled Pretti a 'domestic terrorist' and a 'would-be assassin.' Gregory Bovino, associated with Border Patrol operations, said Pretti intended to 'massacre' law enforcement personnel. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed the victim was 'brandishing' a weapon.
Vice President JD Vance during the annual March for Life rally on Jan. 23, 2026 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.(Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images)
Those assertions were challenged by eyewitness accounts and by video evidence that appeared to contradict the more dramatic claims. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison told The Washington Post that the administration’s early public claims were 'flat‑out insane.'
Vance played a role in amplifying the false narrative: after Miller posted that Pretti was 'an assassin who tried to murder federal agents,' the vice president shared and gave further visibility to the claim online.
The 'for what?' reply struck many observers as particularly insensitive given that Vance had already characterized Pretti’s intent without the benefit of any formal investigation. Critics argue that politicians and officials should avoid rushing to judgment in highly charged cases involving loss of life, and that mischaracterizations can cause further harm to victims’ families and to public trust.
What happens next: Federal and state investigations remain ongoing. If findings show civil-rights violations or other errors in how the case was handled or discussed publicly, calls for acknowledgements or apologies could intensify.
Update: This post updates our earlier related coverage.
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