President Donald Trump sidestepped a question from Rachel Scott, ABC News’ senior political correspondent, regarding the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The incident involved federal agents, and rather than respond directly, Trump attacked Scott, drawing cheers from the audience at the Horizon Events Center in Clive, Iowa.
On Jan. 27, Trump labeled both Scott and ABC News as “fake news.” He said he didn’t like Scott and claimed she hadn’t asked him a good question in years. Back in December, he had also called her “the most obnoxious reporter in the entire place.”
Earlier that day, during a visit to a restaurant in Urbandale, Iowa, Scott asked Trump about the Pretti shooting. Trump called it “a very unfortunate incident,” but added, “I don’t like that he had a gun. I don’t like that he had two fully loaded magazines. That’s a lot of bad stuff.” He also said Pretti “certainly shouldn’t have been carrying a gun.” Pretti had a pistol in a waist holster when Border Patrol agents approached him.
The videos reveal an officer pulling Pretti’s gun from his waistband during a struggle about one second before the first shot. At no time in the footage does Pretti display or reach for the weapon. Minnesota officials confirmed that Pretti legally possessed a concealed-carry permit.
Gun rights groups condemned the President’s remarks about an armed citizen. Both the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America—typically strong defenders of lawful gun owners—criticized officials’ statements after the shooting.
The shooting took place during Operation Metro Surge, a major federal deployment to Minneapolis. The initiative faced controversy and legal challenges from state and local leaders opposed to the federal presence.
The U.S. Department of Justice opened a civil rights investigation into Pretti’s death. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the review, noting that investigators are examining everything that might shed light on what happened that day. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are heading the investigation.
Trump also claimed that crime in Minnesota had dropped due to the federal mission. In an exclusive NBC News interview with anchor Tom Llamas, Trump said he had learned his administration could use “a little bit of a softer touch” in immigration enforcement while still being tough.
In a phone interview with ABC News, Trump claimed, without evidence, that Representative Ilhan Omar staged an attack on herself at a Minneapolis town hall where a man sprayed her with apple cider vinegar. Trump told ABC’s Rachel Scott: “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”
The earlier killing of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, by an ICE agent on Jan. 7 had already triggered protests in Minneapolis before Pretti’s death intensified public anger. ICE says the agent acted in self-defense, alleging Good used her car as a weapon—a statement disputed by local officials, including Mayor Frey.
Trump’s combative approach toward the press—particularly women and journalists of color—has been a consistent feature of his political life. Scott, like other reporters who have challenged him with tough questions, has frequently been singled out by Trump.
Amid mounting public pressure and anger over the fatal shootings, Trump sent border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis on Monday, Jan. 27, to meet with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and other officials. Homan took command of Operation Metro Surge from Border Patrol Commander at Large Gregory Bovino and worked to negotiate agreements with local authorities.
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, Homan announced that 700 of the roughly 3,000 federal officers in Minnesota would leave “effective immediately,” crediting what he called unprecedented cooperation from county jails in transferring detained immigrants to ICE.
A week later, on Thursday, Feb. 12, Homan said Operation Metro Surge would be fully shut down, with most remaining officers departing during the following week. The decision marked a major shift for the administration, which had been under heavy criticism over the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, widespread protests, and bipartisan objections.