Trump's Fiery Response to Minneapolis ICE Shooting Incident
Former US President Donald Trump has unleashed a multi-faceted attack on Minnesota's Democratic leadership following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident by federal immigration officers. Trump characterized the incident as a deliberate "cover-up" while making explosive allegations about corruption involving millions of dollars within the state's political establishment.
The Controversial Social Media Posts
Less than two hours after federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis resident and US citizen, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to share a series of inflammatory statements. The Republican leader posted an image of a handgun alongside accusatory remarks questioning the response of local law enforcement agencies.
"This is the gunman's gun, loaded with two additional full magazines, and ready to go," Trump declared in his post. "What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren't they allowed to protect ICE Officers?"
Allegations of Political Interference and Corruption
Trump asserted that local authorities had been deliberately "called off" by Democratic leaders, forcing federal agents to defend themselves during the encounter. The former president then escalated his rhetoric by making startling financial accusations against Minnesota officials.
"Why does Ilhan Omar have $34 Million Dollars in her account?" Trump questioned. "And where are the Tens of Billions of Dollars that have been stolen from the once Great State of Minnesota?"
In subsequent posts, Trump reiterated his "cover-up" claim while connecting the shooting to broader allegations of financial misconduct. "AMONG OTHER THINGS, THIS IS A 'COVER UP' FOR THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM THE ONCE GREAT STATE OF MINNESOTA!" he emphasized, adding his signature promise that the state would soon be "great again."
Official Accounts and Political Reactions
The Minnesota Star Tribune later identified the deceased individual as Alex Pretti, while Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara confirmed that the 37-year-old man had been legally carrying his weapon at the time of the incident. According to official statements, Pretti possessed a valid permit to carry the firearm.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin provided the federal perspective, stating that officers fired "defensive shots" after an armed man approached them and "violently resisted" their attempts to disarm him. White House aide Stephen Miller reinforced this version of events.
Democratic Leaders Condemn the Shooting
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a prominent Somali-American leader representing Minnesota, offered a starkly different interpretation of the incident. She described the killing as "an execution by immigration enforcement" and accused the Trump administration of attempting "to beat us into submission rather than protect us."
Other progressive Democratic figures, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Zohran Mamdani, echoed Omar's condemnation of the federal officers' actions.
Broader Context and Community Response
The shooting occurred against a backdrop of ongoing protests in Minneapolis following the earlier death of Renee Good, who was fatally shot by ICE officer Jonathan Ross during a separate operation earlier this month. Following Saturday's incident, demonstrators gathered at the scene chanting "ICE out now" in protest against immigration enforcement practices.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz became the first official to confirm the fatal shooting through his social media channels. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance weighed in on the controversy, asserting that federal agents were simply performing their duties in Minnesota and accusing state leadership of obstructing their work.
Trump framed the federal presence in Minnesota as necessary to combat what he described as "massive Monetary Fraud" and "Illegal Criminals that were allowed to infiltrate the State through the Democrats' Open Border Policy." The former president demanded immediate restitution, declaring "We want the money back, and we want it back, NOW."
