United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Jan 27) said the man fatally shot by a federal agent during a confrontation in Minneapolis should not have been carrying a gun or fully loaded magazines, remarks that have placed him at odds with gun rights groups and some members of his own Republican Party.
Speaking to reporters at an Iowa restaurant, Trump referred to Alex Pretti, who was killed on Saturday during a federal immigration enforcement operation. “I haven’t heard that,” Trump said when asked whether he agreed with administration officials who had described Pretti as a domestic terrorist. “But he certainly shouldn’t have been carrying a gun.”
Trump later expanded on his comments, adding, “He had a gun. I don’t like that. He had two fully loaded magazines. That’s a lot of bad stuff. And despite that, I’d say that’s very unfortunate.” His remarks contrasted sharply with positions long held by gun rights advocates, who argue that legally carrying firearms should not be grounds for lethal force.
Pretti was a licensed concealed-weapons holder under Minnesota law, according to gun rights organizations. He was shot by federal agents during what authorities described as a rapidly evolving encounter tied to immigration enforcement. The incident sparked widespread criticism after bystander video circulated online appeared to show Pretti never reaching for or brandishing his weapon before being shot, contradicting some initial statements from administration officials suggesting he posed an immediate threat.
The killing prompted a White House-ordered leadership shakeup within the agency involved, underscoring the political sensitivity surrounding the case.
Gun rights groups, including the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America, pushed back forcefully against Trump’s comments. “You absolutely can walk around with a gun, and you absolutely can peacefully protest while armed,” said Luis Valdes, a spokesman for Gun Owners of America. “It’s an American historical tradition that dates all the way back to the Boston Tea Party.”
“We are not happy,” Valdes added, referring to Trump’s remarks.
Gun rights advocates represent one of the Republican Party’s most reliable voting blocs, and Trump’s comments—along with similar statements by other administration officials—have exposed emerging fractures within the party ahead of the November midterm elections.
Trump made the remarks while greeting supporters in Iowa ahead of a scheduled speech focused on the economy. He also said his border czar, Tom Homan, had met with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and was expected to meet Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey later on Tuesday, as federal and local officials continue to manage the political and public fallout from the shooting.
