US President Donald Trump moved on Monday to defuse mounting political fallout over the killing of a second person by federal immigration agents in Minnesota, dispatching his “border czar” to the state and striking a notably conciliatory tone with Democratic leaders amid growing unrest and criticism from across the political spectrum.
The White House acted as protests spread in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of intensive care unit nurse Alex Pretti by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Saturday. The incident came just weeks after another ICE operation in the state ended in the death of Renee Good, a mother of three, intensifying public anger and scrutiny of the administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.
Video footage of Pretti’s killing circulated widely online, triggering street demonstrations, condemnation from former Democratic presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and, increasingly, unease within Trump’s own Republican Party. Minneapolis has remained on edge since the shootings, with protesters demanding accountability and an end to what they describe as militarised immigration raids.
In response, Trump announced he was sending Tom Homan, his longtime adviser on border security, to Minnesota. “I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “He is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.”
The White House said Homan would oversee ICE operations on the ground, focusing on arresting “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.” His appointment appeared to reflect concern within the administration that the unfolding situation was inflicting significant political damage, as recent polls show a majority of Americans disapprove of ICE’s aggressive enforcement methods.
Trump’s decision may also signal an internal recalibration. US media reports say Homan has favoured more targeted enforcement over the high-profile, large-scale raids championed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, which have often involved heavily armed, masked agents operating in Democratic-led cities.
In a marked shift in rhetoric, Trump said he had a “very good” phone call with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat he has previously accused of corruption. “We actually seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” Trump said, adding that Walz had requested cooperation.
Trump also said he had spoken with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who later confirmed that “some federal agents” would begin leaving the city on Tuesday, though he declined to provide details. Frey said the president agreed that “the present situation can’t continue.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to soften the administration’s stance, saying no one in the White House wanted to see people harmed. She described Pretti’s death as a “tragedy” and expressed sympathy for the family. Her remarks contrasted sharply with earlier comments by Trump aides who had labeled the 37-year-old nurse a “domestic terrorist” without publicly providing evidence.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison rejected that characterization, accusing the administration of promoting a “flat-out insane” narrative to justify the shootings.
Further indications of a tactical shift emerged with reports that Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, a controversial figure who has led aggressive ICE operations in Minneapolis, was leaving the city. Nevertheless, there was no suggestion that Trump intended to abandon his broader hardline immigration strategy. Leavitt said “hundreds of thousands” of dangerous undocumented migrants remained to be deported nationwide.
Monday’s shift in tone came as rare criticism surfaced within Republican ranks. House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer publicly suggested federal agents should withdraw from Minneapolis, an unusual stance for one of Trump’s most loyal allies. Minnesota Republican Chris Madel withdrew from the state’s upcoming gubernatorial race, saying he could not remain in a party inflicting “retribution on the citizens of our state.”
Even Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a staunch Trump supporter, urged federal authorities to “recalibrate,” underscoring the political pressure facing the administration as the crisis continues to unfold.
