Trump Declines to Endorse Noem's Defense of Fatal Minneapolis Shooting
In a significant development, former President Donald Trump has publicly refused to back Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's assertion that the fatal shooting of nurse Alex Pretti in Minnesota was justified. This refusal highlights growing tensions within the administration and contradicts Noem's immediate hardline response to the incident.
Internal DHS Anger Over Noem's Statements
Noem's comments last week, which described the shooting as "an act of domestic terrorism," have reportedly sparked considerable anger and dissent within the Department of Homeland Security. According to multiple reports, several DHS officials are furious over how the secretary handled the situation, with one official telling CNN that her public claims "don't match what Americans can see with their own eyes."
During an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Trump carefully distanced himself from Noem's stance, refusing to confirm whether the Border Patrol agent who shot Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday had "done the right thing." Instead, the president stated that his administration was "reviewing everything and will come out with a determination," indicating a more cautious approach than his secretary's initial reaction.
Contradictory Evidence and Official Criticism
The MAGA leader's comments stand in stark contrast to Noem's characterization of events. Just hours after Pretti's death, Noem claimed the nurse had arrived "with weapons and ammunition to stop a law enforcement operation." However, social media videos and witness accounts suggest Pretti held a legal gun permit and did not brandish his firearm during the encounter.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin revealed that multiple federal immigration officials have privately criticized DHS's handling of the incident, describing it as "a case study on how not to do crisis PR." Officials accused department leaders of rushing out claims of a planned "massacre" and "maximum damage" that were not supported by available video evidence.
One official expressed such frustration that they wished they could retire, while another stated, "DHS is making the situation worse." A third added, "DHS is wrong" and "we are losing this war, we are losing the base and the narrative." Melugin noted that this approach has "been catastrophic from a PR and morale perspective, as it is eroding trust and credibility."
Conflicting Accounts and Political Implications
Trump acknowledged in his WSJ interview that he "doesn't like any shooting" but focused on Pretti arriving with what he described as a "very powerful, fully loaded gun" and magazines. However, bystander footage appears to contradict early DHS claims that Pretti was "violently" resisting, instead showing an officer already holding Pretti's handgun with several officers restraining him moments before another agent opened fire.
This incident follows another controversial shooting earlier this month in Minneapolis, where Renne Nicole Good was killed by ICE agents in what was described as "self-defense." Behind the scenes, White House aides are reportedly worried that the Minneapolis operation has become a political liability, according to the Daily Beast.
While Trump told the Wall Street Journal that immigration agents would "at some point" withdraw from Minneapolis, he suggested another federal team would remain to pursue a "major welfare fraud case." Senior Trump aide Stephen Miller is reportedly urging the president not to back down, creating further tension within the administration's approach to the situation.
The internal rift within DHS continues to widen, with CNN reporting that several insiders believe Noem's statements no longer align with what the public can verify independently. One official bluntly stated, "The department needs a law enforcement leader, not a sicko fan," highlighting the depth of dissatisfaction with the secretary's handling of this sensitive case.
