The shooting itself sparked outrage.
The response that followed ignited something even bigger.
After ICU nurse Alex Pretti was fatally shot during an anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis, President Donald Trump shared a series of claims online that have drawn fierce criticism — and intensified public anger surrounding the case.
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A Death That Sparked National Tension
Alex Pretti, 37, was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer on Saturday, January 24, in the middle of a Minneapolis street.
The Department of Homeland Security has said the shooting was an act of self-defense, claiming agents believed Pretti was armed.
That account has been disputed by witnesses, family members, and journalists who reviewed video footage from the scene.
The incident occurred just weeks after another fatal shooting involving federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, intensifying scrutiny of ICE operations.
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Conflicting Accounts of What Happened
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated that Pretti had approached officers with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, but did not clarify whether it was raised or fired.
Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino went further, claiming Pretti was attempting to “do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.”
However, multiple videos circulating online appear to contradict those claims.
According to reporting by The Guardian, footage reviewed shows Pretti holding a phone — not a gun — while recording officers in the street.
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What Video and Witnesses Appear to Show
In one video, Pretti is seen holding his phone up as officers approach.
In another, witnesses say he stepped in to defend a woman who was allegedly pushed to the ground by law enforcement.
Moments later, Pretti is repeatedly sprayed with a chemical agent and tackled.
Additional footage shows agents surrounding him as one officer appears to reach down and step back holding what is believed to be a firearm.
Seconds later, shots are fired.
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Trump’s Response Ignites Backlash
As public outrage grew, President Donald Trump shared a lengthy post on Truth Social.
Alongside an image of a handgun, Trump claimed it belonged to Pretti and suggested ICE agents were forced to protect themselves due to failures by local leadership.
He questioned why local police were not deployed and accused Minnesota officials of blocking law enforcement efforts.
Trump’s post also included allegations of massive financial fraud by state leaders and claims that protests were being used to cover up wrongdoing.
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Public Reaction and Political Fallout
Trump’s comments drew swift condemnation online.
Social media users accused him of inflaming tensions, spreading unverified claims, and deflecting from the circumstances of Pretti’s death.
One user labeled the post “evil,” while others warned that Trump was accusing elected officials of inciting an insurrection without evidence.
Demonstrations continue in Minneapolis as calls for an independent investigation grow louder.
For Alex Pretti’s family, the debate is about more than politics.
They say the truth about what happened in those final moments still hasn’t been fully told.
