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By Peter Aitken
Politics Weekend Editor
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President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Saturday afternoon to respond to the reports of a fatal shooting in Minneapolis involving federal agents and a 37-year-old man.
"Much of what you’re witnessing is a COVER UP for this Theft and Fraud. The Mayor and the Governor are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric! Instead, these sanctimonious political fools should be looking for the Billions of Dollars that has been stolen from the people of Minnesota, and the United States of America," the president wrote.
The Context
According to statements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the man allegedly approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a handgun during what officials described as a “targeted operation.” Federal agents said he resisted violently, leading an agent to open fire. Medical responders on scene attempted lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
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Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told reporters that the victim was believed to be an American citizen with no criminal history beyond traffic citations and that he legally owned a firearm. Authorities have not yet released his name, but Minneapolis Star Tribune identified him as Alex Jeffrey Pretti, who according to state records, had a nursing license issued in 2021, which remained active through 2026.
What To Know
Trump demanded on Truth Social that Americans "LET OUR ICE PATRIOTS DO THEIR JOB!"
"This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers? The Mayor and the Governor called them off? It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves — Not an easy thing to do! Why does Ilhan Omar have $34 Million Dollars in her account? And where are the Tens of Billions of Dollars that have been stolen from the once Great State of Minnesota?" the president wrote.
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"We are there because of massive Monetary Fraud, with Billions of Dollars missing, and Illegal Criminals that were allowed to infiltrate the State through the Democrats’ Open Border Policy," Trump continued. "We want the money back, and we want it back, NOW. Those Fraudsters who stole the money are going to jail, where they belong! This is no different than a really big Bank Robbery. Much of what you’re witnessing is a COVER UP for this Theft and Fraud. The Mayor and the Governor are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric! Instead, these sanctimonious political fools should be looking for the Billions of Dollars that has been stolen from the people of Minnesota, and the United States of America."
"LET OUR ICE PATRIOTS DO THEIR JOB! 12,000 Illegal Alien Criminals, many of them violent, have been arrested and taken out of Minnesota. If they were still there, you would see something far worse than you are witnessing today!" he concluded in one post.
In a subsequent post just minutes later, Trump added: "AMONG OTHER THINGS, THIS IS A 'COVER UP' FOR THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM THE ONCE GREAT STATE (BUT SOON TO BE GREAT AGAIN!) OF MINNESOTA! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP"
What People Are Saying
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on X: "I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning. Minnesota has had it. This is sickening. The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now."
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey during a press conference on Saturday, in part: "How many times must local and national leaders must plead with you, Donald Trump, to end this operation and recognize that this is not creating safety in our city...We have seen these kinds of operations in other places, in other countries, but not here in America. Not in a way where a great American city is being invaded by its own federal government. I'm done being told that our community members are responsible for the vitriol in our streets. I'm done being told our local elected officials are solely responsible for turning down the temperature."
The Border Patrol Union in a statement on X: "Border Patrol agents are trained extremely well to protect themselves, their fellow agents, and innocent third parties. When a supposed “peaceful” protester brings a weapon (such as a loaded handgun) and brandishes it, there are going to severe consequences and repercussions. We have pleaded with and warned the media and the politicians that their irresponsible, hate-filled and false rhetoric is going to get people unnecessarily hurt, or worse, killed when they portray our agents and officers as the aggressors. They have encouraged these reckless confrontations and attacks on our agents and officers who are performing their lawful duties and enforcing the laws that Congress has put on the books. The fake and dishonest media and the shameless politicians should be held accountable for willfully misleading the public and enticing these protesters and agitators. We have full confidence that when more facts are revealed, our agents and officers will be shown to have utilized justifiable force in eliminating the threat."
Update 1/24/26, 2:45 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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