In a significant development, former US President Donald Trump revealed he engaged in what he characterized as a "very good" telephone conversation with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The discussion centered on forging a cooperative approach to immigration enforcement within the state, signaling a notable departure from Trump's typically adversarial rhetoric toward the Democratic governor. This diplomatic shift emerges against a backdrop of escalating controversy surrounding federal operations and recent tragic incidents in Minnesota.
A Collaborative Tone Emerges
Detailing the exchange on his Truth Social platform, Trump indicated that Governor Walz initiated the contact to explore avenues for coordination. The former president expressed that the two leaders seemed to be operating "on a similar wavelength" regarding their objectives. Trump elaborated on the substance of their dialogue, stating he informed Walz that he would arrange for Tom Homan, a key figure in border security matters, to reach out. The primary focus, as articulated by Trump, is the identification and handling of criminal elements within the state's custody.
"I told Governor Walz that I would have Tom Homan call him, and that what we are looking for are any and all Criminals that they have in their possession," Trump wrote. "The Governor, very respectfully, understood that." Trump further noted that Walz responded positively to the decision to dispatch Homan to Minnesota, a sentiment the former president shared.
Context of Tom Homan's Deployment
The public announcement regarding Tom Homan's planned travel to Minnesota was made by Trump on Monday, January 26. This decision followed considerable public outrage triggered by the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse. Pretti lost his life during an encounter with a federal Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis over the preceding weekend. In his communications, Trump reiterated that his administration's priority remains squarely on targeting criminal activities, asserting that while crime rates in Minnesota have already decreased significantly, both he and Governor Walz are committed to further improvements.
A Stark Departure from Previous Rhetoric
This newly adopted conciliatory stance stands in sharp contrast to Trump's recent, vehement criticisms directed at Governor Walz. Merely days before, in the immediate aftermath of Pretti's killing, Trump launched a scathing attack, accusing Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of "inciting Insurrection." In a separate Truth Social post, Trump derisively labeled the two Democratic officials as "sanctimonious political fools" whose rhetoric he deemed "pompous, dangerous, and arrogant."
Furthermore, Trump has consistently criticized Walz's management of a fraud scandal within Minnesota and has attributed recent unrest, coinciding with two fatal shootings by federal officers this month, to Democratic leadership failures. The abrupt pivot to a cooperative dialogue therefore represents a marked evolution in their political discourse.
Governor Walz Confirms Productive Dialogue
Governor Walz's office corroborated the occurrence of the call, describing it to NBC News as a "productive" engagement with the former president. According to an official statement, Trump consented to communicate with the Department of Homeland Security. The aim is to ensure that state authorities retain the capacity to conduct independent investigations into the shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, the latter having been killed earlier in the month by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
The statement from Walz's office also highlighted additional agreements reached during the conversation. "The President also agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals," the office confirmed.
Backlash Intensifies Over Fatal Shootings
The killing of Alex Pretti represents the second incident this month where a federal officer's actions resulted in a fatality in Minneapolis. These events have significantly amplified criticism of the Trump administration's stringent immigration enforcement measures within the state. Initial portrayals by senior administration officials depicted Pretti as a potential threat, alleging he was "brandishing" a firearm with intent to "massacre law enforcement."
However, subsequent video evidence has challenged this narrative, showing Pretti was legally carrying a gun and did not appear to pose an immediate threat to officers at the time of the shooting. The administration's handling of these shootings, coupled with the scale of federal enforcement operations in Minnesota, has provoked growing pushback. This dissent notably includes criticism from some quarters traditionally supportive of Trump, indicating the breadth of concern over these incidents and their aftermath.
