President Donald Trump has said his administration is 'going to de-escalate a little bit' in Minnesota, after the second fatal shooting of a US citizen by federal immigration officers there.
'Bottom line, it was terrible. Both of them were terrible,' he said in a Fox News interview on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, Renee Good was fatally shot by an immigration officer, followed by Alex Pretti, who was killed on Saturday after being stopped by border agents.
Pretti's death reignited local protests and public outcry across the country, and led to criticism from lawmakers in both parties. Trump's remarks are the latest sign his administration is taking a step back on its operations in Minnesota.
Speaking to other reporters ahead of a rally in Iowa Tuesday night, Trump said he viewed the killing of Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a veterans' hospital, as 'a very unfortunate incident'.
When asked if he agreed with characterizations of Pretti as a 'domestic terrorist,' Trump responded, 'I haven't heard that.' He added, 'He shouldn't have been carrying a gun.'
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described Pretti as having been 'there to perpetuate violence,' while claiming he was engaged in 'domestic terrorism'. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has defended its agents, stating that they fired in self-defense after Pretti resisted attempts to disarm him.
Eyewitnesses have disputed the DHS's version of events, asserting that Pretti was only holding a phone, not a gun at the time of the shooting. Local authorities stated the gun had been legally registered and that the agents shot Pretti after removing the firearm. A preliminary report from Customs and Border Protection has also contradicted the DHS account.
On Monday, the DHS reassigned the Minnesota mission’s leader amid the backlash and criticism. Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota and local law enforcement officials have spoken with the new leader, Tom Homan, in an effort to address the rising tensions in the community.
The recent shootings have sparked fears over safety and calls for the withdrawal of approximately 3,000 immigration agents from the area. Despite this, Trump defended the operation claiming it had removed 'thousands of hardened criminals' from the state and emphasized the need for continued enforcement measures.
As the situation unfolds, pressures from various political factions may lead to further complications in the administration's approach to immigration policing in Minnesota.
'Bottom line, it was terrible. Both of them were terrible,' he said in a Fox News interview on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, Renee Good was fatally shot by an immigration officer, followed by Alex Pretti, who was killed on Saturday after being stopped by border agents.
Pretti's death reignited local protests and public outcry across the country, and led to criticism from lawmakers in both parties. Trump's remarks are the latest sign his administration is taking a step back on its operations in Minnesota.
Speaking to other reporters ahead of a rally in Iowa Tuesday night, Trump said he viewed the killing of Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a veterans' hospital, as 'a very unfortunate incident'.
When asked if he agreed with characterizations of Pretti as a 'domestic terrorist,' Trump responded, 'I haven't heard that.' He added, 'He shouldn't have been carrying a gun.'
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described Pretti as having been 'there to perpetuate violence,' while claiming he was engaged in 'domestic terrorism'. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has defended its agents, stating that they fired in self-defense after Pretti resisted attempts to disarm him.
Eyewitnesses have disputed the DHS's version of events, asserting that Pretti was only holding a phone, not a gun at the time of the shooting. Local authorities stated the gun had been legally registered and that the agents shot Pretti after removing the firearm. A preliminary report from Customs and Border Protection has also contradicted the DHS account.
On Monday, the DHS reassigned the Minnesota mission’s leader amid the backlash and criticism. Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota and local law enforcement officials have spoken with the new leader, Tom Homan, in an effort to address the rising tensions in the community.
The recent shootings have sparked fears over safety and calls for the withdrawal of approximately 3,000 immigration agents from the area. Despite this, Trump defended the operation claiming it had removed 'thousands of hardened criminals' from the state and emphasized the need for continued enforcement measures.
As the situation unfolds, pressures from various political factions may lead to further complications in the administration's approach to immigration policing in Minnesota.
