President Donald Trump sidestepped a question from Rachel Scott, ABC News’ senior political correspondent, regarding the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The incident involved federal agents, and rather than respond directly, Trump attacked Scott, drawing applause from attendees at the Horizon Events Center in Clive, Iowa.
On Tuesday, January 27, Trump labeled Scott and ABC News as “fake news.” He said he didn’t like Scott and claimed she hadn’t asked him a solid question in years. Back in December, he had called her “the most obnoxious reporter in the entire place” and said she was a poor journalist.
Trump called Pretti’s death unfortunate but also faulted him for carrying a weapon when federal agents approached. Pretti had a handgun in a waist holster. However, video obtained by CBS News, ABC News, and others shows that Pretti was only holding a cellphone as agents moved in.
The video shows an officer taking Pretti’s gun from his waistband during a scuffle roughly one second before the first shot was fired. At no point does Pretti appear to display or reach for the firearm. Minnesota officials confirmed that he was legally permitted to carry a concealed weapon.
Gun rights groups condemned the President’s remarks about an armed civilian. Both the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America—organizations known for advocating for lawful gun owners—criticized officials’ comments following the shooting.
The shooting happened during Operation Metro Surge, a broad federal deployment in Minneapolis. The operation drew criticism and legal challenges from state and local officials opposed to the federal intervention.
The U.S. Department of Justice opened a civil rights inquiry into Pretti’s killing. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the investigation, stating that authorities are “examining everything that might shed light on what happened that day.” The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are leading the probe.
After discussions with Trump, Governor Walz called for independent reviews of shootings involving federal agents. Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, met with both Walz and Mayor Frey. In an exclusive ABC News interview, Trump said federal operations would be reduced going forward.
Trump also claimed crime in Minnesota had dropped because of the federal mission.
Tensions between Trump and ABC’s Scott grew during an exclusive interview on Tuesday. Trump alleged, without offering any proof, that Representative Ilhan Omar staged an attack on herself at a Minneapolis town hall where a man sprayed apple cider vinegar at her as she spoke.
The January 7 killing of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, by an ICE agent had already led to protests in Minneapolis, and Pretti’s death further fueled public outrage. ICE claims the agent acted in self-defense, saying Good used her vehicle as a weapon—an account disputed by local leaders, including Mayor Frey.
Trump’s combative approach toward the press—particularly women and journalists of color—has been a consistent pattern throughout his political life. Scott, like other reporters who have challenged him with tough questions, has frequently been singled out by Trump.
As public anger over the fatal shootings mounted, Trump dispatched border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis on Monday, January 27, to meet with Governor Walz, Mayor Frey, and other leaders. Homan took over command of Operation Metro Surge from Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino and worked to reach agreements with local officials.
On Wednesday, February 5, Homan announced that 700 of the roughly 3,000 federal officers in Minnesota would depart “effective immediately,” citing what he called unprecedented cooperation from county jails in transferring detained immigrants to ICE.
A week later, on Thursday, February 13, Homan said Operation Metro Surge would be fully phased out, with the remaining officers leaving over the following week. The development marked a major policy shift as the administration faced strong criticism over the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, widespread protests, and bipartisan opposition.
