Trump Says Administration ‘Reviewing Everything’ After Fatal Shooting Of Minneapolis Nurse
President Donald Trump said his administration is “reviewing everything” after federal immigration agents fatally shot a Minneapolis intensive care nurse during a confrontation over the weekend.
The victim, 37-year-old Alex Pretti, was killed on Saturday during an encounter with Border Patrol agents. The incident has triggered protests in Minneapolis and other cities, along with renewed tensions between Minnesota officials and the federal government.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Trump said investigators would determine whether the agent acted appropriately. “We’re looking, we’re reviewing everything and will come out with a determination,” he said. He added that he does not “like any shooting,” but also criticized what he described as someone entering a protest with a “fully loaded gun.”
The president suggested federal agents could eventually be withdrawn from the city, though he did not provide a timeline.
Conflicting accounts
The Department of Homeland Security said agents fired in self-defense after Pretti resisted efforts to disarm him and was “brandishing” a handgun.
Minnesota officials dispute that version. Local authorities say Pretti legally owned a handgun and had a valid permit to carry in the state, where public carry is allowed with proper authorization. His family said he owned a firearm but rarely carried it and that they had never known him to bring it to demonstrations.
Videos recorded at the scene show a struggle between agents and Pretti moments before shots were fired. Eyewitnesses and family members say he was holding a phone, not a weapon. BBC Verify reported that available footage does not clearly show a gun in his hand at the time of the shooting.
The facts remain contested, and the shooting marks the second fatal incident involving a U.S. citizen and federal agents in Minneapolis in recent weeks.
Growing political pressure
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the country is at an “inflection point,” warning that trust between communities and law enforcement is being tested. Protests continued Sunday, with demonstrators demanding an independent investigation.
Some Republican lawmakers have joined Democrats in calling for a broader review of the incident.
Questions about jurisdiction are already emerging. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told the BBC that state officers were initially blocked from accessing the scene by federal agents, despite having obtained a search warrant. He said such conflicts could complicate cooperation between local and federal law enforcement agencies.
A previous fatal shooting earlier this month is now under FBI review after Minnesota officials withdrew from the investigation following disagreements with federal authorities.
As scrutiny intensifies, the administration faces pressure to clarify what happened, how force was used, and whether changes to enforcement policies are under consideration. For now, the White House says it is reviewing the case and will issue a determination once that process is complete.
