Tim Walz compares Minnesota ICE actions to Holocaust and Anne Frank: ‘Hiding in their houses’
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Sunday likened federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota to the Holocaust and “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank following the second fatal shooting involving federal officers in Minneapolis. The incident on Saturday left 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ICU nurse, dead during an encounter with immigration agents. Federal officials initially stated that Pretti was armed and resisted agents, while local accounts indicate Pretti was disarmed before he was fatally shot. During a press briefing, Walz claimed that some children in Minnesota now feel fear or uncertainty about going outside due to aggressive federal immigration operations. “We have got children in Minnesota hiding in their houses, afraid to go outside. Many of us grew up reading that story of Anne Frank,” Walz said, referring to the German-Jewish teenager who documented her life in hiding during the Nazi persecution in World War II. NARRATIVES CLASH AFTER TRUMP AND VICTIM’S FAMILY REACT TO SECOND MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING “Somebody is going to write that children’s story about Minnesota, and there’s one person who can end this now,” he said, referring to President Donald Trump. Walz further criticized Trump, saying the president smeared the victim, gaslit the entire country and sought to conceal evidence related to the killing. “This family has gone through enough,” Walz said of Pretti’s relatives. “And to have the most powerful man in the world drag their dead son with absolutely no evidence and gaslight the entire country.” “Sitting behind a keyboard at 2 a.m. and besmirching a VA nurse and a son and a coworker and a friend is despicable beyond all description,” he added. TODD BLANCHE WARNS AMERICANS ‘SHOULD BE WORRIED’ ABOUT MINNESOTA PROTESTS AFTER CHURCH DISRUPTION Trump and senior White House officials defended the federal response after Saturday’s fatal shooting. Trump previously noted that Pretti was armed and carrying two extra magazines during the confrontation, while White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller called Pretti a “would-be assassin” and “domestic terrorist” who “tried to murder federal law enforcement.” Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem also noted that the victim “violently resisted” arrest, saying that the federal agent fired his weapon “fearing for his life.” Following Walz’s remarks, Trump urged the governor in a post on Truth Social to stop “encouraging Leftwing Agitators to unlawfully obstruct their operations,” warning that sanctuary city rhetoric has “created dangerous circumstances for EVERYONE involved.” “Tragically, two American Citizens have lost their lives as a result of this Democrat ensued chaos,” he wrote. DHS SLAMS DEMS FOR COMPLAINING ABOUT IMMIGRATION LAW: ‘IT IS QUITE LITERALLY THEIR JOB TO CHANGE IT’ Walz continued to describe Pretti as a modest American, emphasizing that he held a legally licensed concealed-carry permit, and blasted federal officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, for unfairly portraying Pretti as a “crazed domestic terrorist.” “Beloved by his family, accomplished ICU nurse, skillful in ability to work with veterans, someone who is beloved by the community, no criminal record, lawful firearms owner,” Walz said. “And then you heard the most powerful people in the world, certainly in this country — president, vice president, Gregory Bovino, Kristi Noem — narrate to you what you were looking at, that this was a domestic terrorist, crazed, running at law enforcement with the intent to kill massive numbers of that, sullying his name within minutes of this event happening.” ANTI-ICE AGITATOR ALLEGEDLY BITES OFF FEDERAL OFFICER’S FINGER DURING MINNEAPOLIS ATTACK Walz also alleged that federal officials blocked state investigators from accessing the scene and sought to destroy or alter evidence related to the shooting. “Then closing the crime scene, sweeping away the evidence, defying a court order and not allowing anyone to look at it,” he said. “I don’t care if you are conservative and you are flying a Donald Trump flag… If we cannot all agree that the smearing of an American citizen and besmirching everything they stood for and asking us not to believe what we saw, I don’t know what else to tell you.” The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension filed a lawsuit Saturday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota seeking to prevent the destruction or alteration of evidence related to the shooting. The lawsuit names the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Patrol, as well as Attorney General Pam Bondi as defendants. Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Dems silent on Minnesota church disruption after pressing Bondi to use FACE Act on pro-lifers
The Democratic headliners of a letter sent just months ago that demanded Attorney General Pam Bondi “fully enforce” the FACE Act against pro-life demonstrators were silent when asked by Fox News Digital if the same emphasis should be put toward prosecuting the Minnesota church disruptors. With Bondi now bringing FACE Act charges against the agitators disrupting a Baptist service Jan. 18, those Democrats who signed the letter may face a narrowing decision, publicly back the prosecutions under the FACE Act, break with the same attorney general they pressured in 2025, or remain silent as Republicans demand prosecutions in this aspect. In March 2025, Democratic Reps. Sean Casten and Jan Schakowsky of Illinois and Jerrold Nadler of New York headlined the 75-member letter demanding that Bondi “fully enforce the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and ensure women and health care providers are not threatened, harassed, or abused while trying to enter reproductive health care facilities.” Fox News Digital reached out by email and phone to the offices of Casten, Schakowsky and Nadler to ask whether they would similarly agree to have the law — originally spearheaded by “liberal lion” Ted Kennedy — be used in earnest as well against left-wing agitators who disrupted a Twin Cities church service in mid-January. MAGISTRATE JUDGE REJECTS CHARGES AGAINST DON LEMON IN CONNECTION WITH ANTI-ICE CHURCH PROTEST One of the reverends at the Baptist church was reportedly connected with local Immigration and Customs Enforcemet (ICE) operations. The three lawmakers did not respond when asked whether Bondi should similarly pursue federal FACE Act charges against the agitators or whether they had any further comment on the heckling of the minister by people like former CNN host Don Lemon. Fox News Digital also reached out to as many of the other 72 Democrats listed as possible — including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Bonnie Watson-Coleman, D-N.J., and Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. — but received a response from only one. A representative for Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., acknowledged the inquiry and said they were “looking into” the matter. MINNESOTA PASTOR CONDEMNS ANTI-ICE AGITATORS WHO INTERRUPTED SERVICE: ‘SHAMEFUL AND UNLAWFUL’ In their letter, the Democrats wrote that limiting the Department of Justice from enforcing “bipartisan law will put at risk the well-being and security of patients, providers, and others at reproductive health care facilities.” “Individuals have the right to freedom of speech and the right to peacefully gather to protest, ” they wrote. “However, individuals do not have the right to use physical force or intimidation as these acts pose a threat to those attempting to access a range of health care services — from abortion care to breast cancer screenings, prenatal care, reproductive counseling, and in-vitro fertilization.” The FACE Act has provisions for both abortion clinics and public exercise of First Amendment rights to freedom of religion. Nonetheless, Bondi’s office has already pursued charges against alleged disruptors, including Chauntyll Louisa Allen — a St. Paul, Minnesota,school board member — and Nekima Levy Armstrong, who authorities said played a “key role” in organizing the “coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul.” “Listen loud and clear, we do not tolerate attacks on places of worship,” Bondi tweeted after the incident. Fox News’ Jake Gibson and Charlie Horan contributed to this report.
Carney pushes back on Trump’s 100% tariff threat over China trade deals with Canada amid tensions
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday that Canada has no plans to pursue a free trade deal with China, pushing back against President Trump’s threat to slap 100% tariffs on Canadian goods. Carney said Canada’s recent agreement with China only rolled back tariffs in a few sectors that had been hit in recent years and did not amount to a free trade deal. He noted that under the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement, Canada has committed not to pursue free trade agreements with nonmarket economies without prior notification. “We have no intention of doing that with China or any other nonmarket economy,” Carney said. “What we have done with China is to rectify some issues that developed in the last couple of years.” Carney made his first official visit to China earlier this month as he and Chinese President Xi Jinping work together to forge an improved bond between their countries. The leaders reached an agreement that would allow up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles to enter the Canadian market at a lower tariff rate of 6.1%, Carney’s office said. US TRADE REP SHRUGS OFF WORLD LEADERS’ SWIPES AT TRUMP AMID DAVOS BACKLASH In 2024, Canada matched U.S. trade policy by imposing a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum. China retaliated with 100% duties on Canadian canola oil and meal and 25% tariffs on pork and seafood. Trump issued his tariff threat in a social media post, warning that if Carney “thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken.” TRUMP WARNS CANADA OF 100% TARIFFS IF IT BECOMES CHINA’S ‘DROP OFF PORT’ WITH NEW POTENTIAL TRADE DEAL In another post on Sunday, Trump claimed Canada is being taken over by China. “China is successfully and completely taking over the once Great Country of Canada,” Trump’s post read. “So sad to see it happen. I only hope they leave Ice Hockey alone!” The Associated Press contributed to this report.
White House accuses Walz of undermining law enforcement, blocking ICE cooperation
The Trump administration is sharply criticizing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, accusing him of undermining law enforcement and blocking cooperation with federal immigration authorities. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt took aim at Walz in a social media post, writing that the governor has failed to cooperate with federal agencies, especially Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), during large-scale enforcement operations. “Tim Walz does NOT believe in law and order,” Leavitt’s post read. “No amount of propaganda from his allies in the liberal media will convince the American people otherwise.” Walz has sharply rebuked the federal presence following several controversial shootings involving immigration agents, including the death of Minneapolis resident Renée Good in early January and again on Sunday a day after another fatal shooting that resulted in the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti. BONDI VOWS ACCOUNTABILITY AFTER CHURCH ATTACK, SAYS MINNESOTA ‘A MESS RIGHT NOW’ “Minnesota believes in law and order,” Walz wrote in a post on X earlier Sunday. “We believe in peace. And we believe that Trump needs to pull his 3,000 untrained agents out of Minnesota before they kill another American in the street.” Leavitt claimed the governor has refused to allow law enforcement to work with ICE to arrest and remove what she described as “dangerous criminal illegal aliens.” According to Leavitt, since President Donald Trump took office, Walz has released “nearly 500 criminal illegal aliens back onto Minnesota’s streets” rather than transferring them to federal custody. MAYOR FREY SHARES HIGHLY PRODUCED VIDEO SPEAKING ON LATINO RADIO STATION: ‘YOU’RE BRAVE AND YOU’RE TOUGH’ She further accused Walz of spreading “malicious lies” about federal law enforcement officers, saying his rhetoric has put officers in danger while they carry out immigration enforcement operations. Leavitt said Walz has encouraged “left-wing agitators to stalk and record federal officers,” leading to officers being “doxxed, targeted, impeded, and placed in extremely dangerous situations.” She also pointed to Walz’s handling of civil unrest in 2020, writing, “Don’t forget, this is the same Tim Walz who allowed rioters to burn Minneapolis in the summer of 2020” following the murder of George Floyd. She further accused Walz of overseeing “massive fraud schemes” in Minnesota that she said resulted in “tens of billions of dollars in stolen American taxpayer funds.” Leavitt said Trump “will never back down” from his pledge to deport violent criminal illegal aliens, a promise she said nearly 80 million Americans supported over what she called the “Open Borders Agenda of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.” She urged Walz to change course and cooperate with federal authorities. “Governor Walz should do the right thing by Minnesotans and work WITH, rather than AGAINST, federal law enforcement,” Leavitt wrote, pointing to states like Florida and Texas and cities like Washington, D.C., as examples where cooperation has led to “peace and safety.”
Vance calls Minneapolis unrest ‘engineered chaos’ after deadly shooting
Vice President JD Vance called the unrest in Minnesota “engineered chaos” in the wake of another fatal, federal agent-involved shooting over the weekend. On Saturday, 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse who was carrying a licensed handgun while protesting a federal immigration enforcement operation, was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent. Authorities say Pretti resisted arrest after trying to intervene in the operation. In response to the shooting, Vance accused “far-left agitators working with local authorities” of creating the conditions that led to the confrontation between Pretti and the border patrol agents. SENATE DEMS REVOLT AGAINST DHS FUNDING BILL AMID MINNEAPOLIS CHAOS, HIKING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN RISK “This level of engineered chaos is unique to Minneapolis,” Vance said in a post on X. “It is the direct consequence of far left agitators, working with local authorities.” His remarks come as a familiar network of far-left groups mobilize nationwide, often coalescing around disparate causes. FAMILIAR GROUPS MOBILIZE IMMEDIATELY AFTER ICE SHOOTING OF MINNESOTA PROTESTER In Minneapolis, the unrest intensified after the shooting, leading several local officials, including Gov. Tim Walz, to call on the Department of Homeland Security and the Trump administration to pull Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from the city. Walz said in a post on X that he spoke with the White House “after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning.” “Minnesota has had it,” Walz said. “This is sickening. The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.” On Sunday, Walz said: “Minnesota believes in law and order. We believe in peace,” and called on Trump to pull “untrained agents” out of the state. But the White House wasn’t keen on budging. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to local leadership calling for the withdrawal of federal law enforcement from Minnesota, writing on X that the focus should not be on removing officers but on removing “dangerous criminal illegal aliens” from the state. “The Democrats have their priorities completely upside down. They will not keep the American people safe,” Leavitt wrote. ICE OFFICERS INJURED AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT STRIKES AGENTS Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said Pretti approached agents while armed with a 9 mm pistol and two magazines and “violently resisted” when officers tried to disarm him, prompting one agent to fire. Local video footage and eyewitness accounts, however, appear to show Pretti holding only his phone before he was pepper-sprayed and pinned to the ground, raising questions about the government’s account of the encounter. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox News on Sunday that she grieves for Pretti’s family and vowed a thorough investigation. “We can’t have individuals that are impeding law enforcement operations and then showing up with guns and weapons and no ID and confronting law enforcement like that,” Noem said. “It is one of the reasons that we see situations like this unfold.” He was shot several times and pronounced dead at the scene. State officials later said Pretti had a lawful permit to carry the firearm. Minnesota Democrats pushed back on the White House’s characterization, arguing the federal operation escalated tensions and endangered residents, including those not targeted by immigration enforcement.
Trump hails ‘great and very brave’ UK soldiers after slamming NATO allies’ Afghanistan service
President Donald Trump praised the soldiers of the United Kingdom who served alongside the U.S. in Afghanistan on Saturday, clarifying his previous criticism of NATO allies. Trump had earlier criticized NATO troops who served in Afghanistan, arguing they had stayed “a little bit back” from the frontlines during the conflict. His statement was met with outrage in the U.K., however, where Prime Minister Kier Starmer called it “insulting and frankly, appalling.” “The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America! In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken. The U.K. Military, with tremendous Heart and Soul, is second to none (except for the U.S.A.!). We love you all, and always will!” he continued. THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S UK VISIT SHOULDN’T BE UNDERESTIMATED The social media post partially walks back his previous criticism of NATO, made during an interview on Fox Business. “We have never really asked anything of them,” he said. “You know, they’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan or this or that, and they did. They stayed a little back, little off the front lines.” Starmer’s office says the prime minister raised the issue with Trump during a phone call this weekend. UK READY TO SEND TROOPS, JETS, SHIPS IF TRUMP CLINCHES UKRAINE CEASEFIRE, DEFENSE CHIEF SAYS “The Prime Minister raised the brave and heroic British and American soldiers who fought side by side in Afghanistan, many of whom never returned home,” a spokesperson said. “We must never forget their sacrifice.” Trump’s initial remarks also drew a direct rebuke from Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan. “I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there,” Harry said. “Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defense of diplomacy and peace,” he added.
Judge blocks Trump admin from ‘destroying or altering’ evidence in deadly Minneapolis shooting
A federal judge in Minnesota has blocked the Trump administration from “destroying or altering evidence” related to a deadly shooting involving a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on Saturday. The ruling came after the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension filed a lawsuit Saturday to prevent the destruction of evidence in the shooting death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident killed by a Border Patrol agent during an immigration enforcement operation. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Pretti approached Border Patrol agents armed with a 9 mm pistol and “violently resisted” when they attempted to disarm him. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, names DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and U.S. Border Control, as well as Attorney General Pam Bondi, as defendants. TRUMP CITES ARMED SUSPECT, LACK OF POLICE SUPPORT FOLLOWING FATAL BORDER PATROL SHOOTING IN MINNEAPOLIS The groups, represented by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, said the litigation is accompanied by a motion for a temporary restraining order that asks the court to immediately prevent the defendants from destroying any evidence related to the shooting. In granting the temporary injunction, Judge Eric Tostrud wrote that federal officials and those acting on their behalf cannot destroy evidence taken from the scene of the south Minneapolis shooting or now in their exclusive custody, which state authorities say they were previously barred from inspecting. Tostrud scheduled a hearing Monday to review the order. “As I said earlier today, I will not rest, my team will not rest, until we have done everything in our power, everything within our authority, to achieve transparency and accountability,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement. “Our office has jurisdiction to review this matter for potential criminal conduct by the federal agents involved and we will do so.” Moriarty added that the lawsuit is just one of the actions her office is taking “to ensure that a thorough and transparent investigation can be completed at the state level.” READ IT: BONDI SENDS WARNING LETTER TO GOV WALZ WARNING MINNESOTA’S IMMIGRATION POLICIES ENDANGER AGENTS In announcing the litigation, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison asserted that “federal agents are not above the law and Alex Pretti is certainly not beneath it.” “A full, impartial, and transparent investigation into his fatal shooting at the hands of DHS agents is non-negotiable,” he said in a statement. “Minnesota law enforcement is currently carrying out such an investigation, and it is essential that the evidence collected by federal agents is preserved and turned over to state officials. Today’s lawsuit aims to bar the federal government from destroying or tampering with any of the evidence they have collected.” Ellison added that “justice will be done.” Fox News Digital reached out to the White House, the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department for comment. In a separate statement, Ellison said he shares “intense grief and anger” that Pretti was shot and killed during the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge. APPEALS COURT HANDS TRUMP ADMIN ‘VICTORY’ IN MINNESOTA ICE FORCE RESTRICTIONS CASE He said his office will argue in court Monday to end “this illegal and unconstitutional occupation of our cities and the terror and violence it’s inflicting.” The Department of Homeland Security said it is leading the investigation into the shooting. Pretti was a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ICU nurse. Though medics immediately delivered aid, Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene. Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
New Democratic group pushes fresh faces as party’s brand sinks to historic lows
Democrats are rolling out The Bench — a new political group pushing a crop of rising star candidates aiming to remake the party. The organization, which was formally launched earlier this month by a handful of campaign veterans, says its mission is to spend resources to build a bench full of candidates, which they highlight as “the future of the Democratic Party.” The launch of the new group comes as Democrats aim to win back House and Senate majorities in this year’s midterm elections, but as the party also suffers from historically low favorability and approval ratings. The party in power in Washington, D.C., which this year is clearly the GOP, normally faces stiff political headwinds in the midterm elections. And the latest national polls indicate that President Donald Trump‘s approval ratings remain well underwater, fueled in part by Americans’ continued deep concerns over persistent inflation. DEMOCRATS EYE NARROW AND UPHILL PATH TO SENATE MAJORITY But Democrats have their own polling problems, with a slew of surveys dating back a year indicating the party’s brand hitting historic lows. The Bench, in a statement, says the candidates they’re backing “can help us repair our brand, they are best positioned to win general election races and hold onto seats.” The group plans to provide these candidates “with the tools, strategy, and support to run serious, solutions-focused campaigns that challenge the status quo, connect with voters, and deliver real results for the people they serve.” CALL TO DUTY: IN BATTLE FOR HOUSE, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS LOOKING TO VETERANS The group, which includes well-known Democratic operative and strategist Lis Smith and communications specialist Andrew Mamo, has been working for months to recruit and build up three Senate candidates and a dozen House contenders. The Senate candidates are Michigan state Senate Majority Whip Mallory McMorrow, Texas state lawmaker and Presbyterian seminarian James Talarico and Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek, a Paralympian wheelchair basketball player. In House races, the group is backing Jamie Ager in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, Shannon Bird in Colorado’s 8th District, Bob Brooks in Pennsylvania’s 7th District, Cait Conley in New York’s 17th District and Mike Cortese in Tennessee’s 5th District. FIRED UNDER TRUMP, THESE TWO FORMER TOP MILITARY OFFICES HAVE A NEW MISSION: RUN FOR CONGRESS AS DEMOCRATS The list also includes Sam Forstag in Montana’s 1st District, Sarah Trone Garriott in Iowa’s 3rd District, Matt Maasdam in Michigan’s 7th District, Darren McAuley in Florida’s 15th District, Denise Blaya Powell in Nebraska’s 2nd District and Bobby Pulidio in Texas’ 15th District. And this week, the group backed Nancy Lacore in South Carolina’s 1st District. Lacore, a 35-year military veteran who served as a Navy helicopter pilot and later as chief of the Navy Reserve, a 60,000-person force, was removed from her post last August by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The group notes that the candidates they’re supporting range from progressives to centrists. “These candidates aren’t united by ideology, but by a willingness to break from Democratic defaults, speak honestly to their communities, and compete seriously in places the party has too often written off,” the group said. But Mike Marinella, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, told Fox News Digital, “The Democrat Party is a broken brand, and they’re stitching it together with deeply radical candidates. They’re too woke for the working class, too weak to get anything done and too lost to get out of the wilderness.”
GOP Sen. Cassidy breaks with Trump over deadly shooting by Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., called for a full investigation after a federal agent fatally shot a man who was allegedly armed in Minneapolis on Saturday, calling the incident “incredibly disturbing.” Cassidy joined a chorus of Democratic lawmakers raising questions following the shooting death of 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Alex J. Pretti, who was killed by a Border Patrol agent on Saturday. Pretti allegedly confronted officers during a Department of Homeland Security operation in south Minneapolis and was carrying a gun, according to the agency. “The events in Minneapolis are incredibly disturbing,” Cassidy said in a post on X. “The credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake. There must be a full joint federal and state investigation.” Cassidy added that “we can trust the American people with the truth.” TRUMP BRIEFED ON BORDER PATROL-INVOLVED SHOOTING AS MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR DEMANDS END TO ENFORCEMENT OPERATION The Louisiana Republican’s comments were seemingly at odds with members of his party, including President Donald Trump, who said in a post on Truth Social following the shooting that federal agents “had to protect themselves” because of the lack of support from local police in Minneapolis. “This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go—What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?” Trump wrote in the post. “The Mayor and the Governor called them off? It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves—Not an easy thing to do!” Last week, Trump pledged his endorsement for U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow if she were to enter the GOP primary in Louisiana, challenging Cassidy, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 2015. Letlow launched her Senate bid days later. NOEM SAYS MINNEAPOLIS SUSPECT COMMITTED ‘DOMESTIC TERRORISM,’ ACCUSES WALZ, FREY OF INCITING VIOLENCE Cassidy was one of the Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump after the House impeached him in 2021. The Senate vote ultimately fell short of the threshold required to convict Trump. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said during a news conference Saturday that the incident had occurred while DHS officers carried out “targeted operations” in Minneapolis against an illegal immigrant with a violent criminal history. “An individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun,” Noem said. “The officers attempted to disarm this individual, but the armed suspect reacted violently,” Noem said. “Fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers around him, an agent fired defensive shots.” BLOCKING ICE COOPERATION FUELED MINNESOTA UNREST, OFFICIALS WARN AS VIRGINIA REVERSES COURSE Noem said Pretti had “two magazines with ammunition in them that held dozens of rounds” and no identification, adding that “this looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement.” She said DHS is investigating the shooting “just like we do all other officer-involved shootings,” adding that additional details would be forthcoming. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said during a news conference Saturday that “we need ICE out of Minnesota,” while placing blame on the Trump administration. “I have personally warned them that there would be more deaths, that more of this would happen,” she said. “And clearly they’re not listening. So, we ask people around the country to talk to their Republican representatives to make clear that this is not the America that is ours. This has got to stop.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to Klobuchar’s comments in an X post Saturday, saying federal agents should not be removed from Minnesota. “We need dangerous criminal illegal aliens out of Minnesota. The Democrats have their priorities completely upside down. They will not keep the American people safe,” she wrote. In his own post, Vice President JD Vance blamed “far left agitators” for the recent unrest in Minneapolis. “This level of engineered chaos is unique to Minneapolis,” he posted on X Saturday evening. “It is the direct consequence of far left agitators, working with local authorities.” Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and the White House for comment. Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr and Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
Gun rights groups clash after man DHS says was armed fatally shot by CBP in Minneapolis
The fatal Border Patrol shooting of a man who the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says was armed with a 9mm pistol during a confrontation with agents on Saturday has sparked a clash among gun rights groups, pitting defenses of lawful carry and protest rights against warnings about escalating anti-law-enforcement rhetoric. Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident, was shot Saturday morning while allegedly protesting an immigration enforcement operation targeting an illegal immigrant with a criminal record. DHS officials say Pretti approached Border Patrol agents while armed with a handgun and “violently resisted” when they attempted to disarm him, leading to the shooting. State officials said Pretti, who was pronounced dead at the scene, had a lawful Permit to Carry (PTC), and court records obtained by Fox News Digital indicate he did not have a criminal record. ANTI-ICE AGITATOR ALLEGEDLY BITES OFF FEDERAL OFFICER’S FINGER DURING MINNEAPOLIS ATTACK The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus quickly responded to the shooting, calling it “deeply concerning.” “According to local officials, the man was legally armed, a firearm was recovered at the scene, and he is believed to have been a lawful gun owner and permit to carry holder,” the organization wrote in a statement. They added many critical facts remain unknown, as the shooting happened just hours earlier. MINNESOTA POLICE CHIEFS ALLEGE SOME ICE AGENTS RACIALLY PROFILED US CITIZENS, INCLUDING OFF-DUTY OFFICERS “We do not yet have an independent account of what initiated the encounter or what triggered the use of deadly force,” the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus wrote. “Despite widespread speculation regarding intent, there has been no evidence produced indicating an intent to harm the officers. We are calling for a full and transparent investigation by both state and federal authorities. “Every peaceable Minnesotan has the right to keep and bear arms—including while attending protests, acting as observers, or exercising their First Amendment rights. These rights do not disappear when someone is lawfully armed, and they must be respected and protected at all times.” Contrasting Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus’ response, the National Rifle Association (NRA) released a statement on social media blaming Democrat leaders in the blue state for “incit[ing] violence” against law enforcement officers, and pleading with Minnesotans to lower the temperature amid ongoing unrest. NOEM SAYS MINNEAPOLIS SUSPECT COMMITTED ‘DOMESTIC TERRORISM,’ ACCUSES WALZ, FREY OF INCITING VIOLENCE “For months, radical progressive politicians like [Minnesota Gov.] Tim Walz have incited violence against law enforcement officers who are simply trying to do their jobs,” the NRA wrote in an X post. “Unsurprisingly, these calls to dangerously interject oneself into legitimate law-enforcement activities have ended in violence, tragically resulting in injuries and fatalities.” The NRA noted that as with any officer-involved shooting, there will be “a robust and comprehensive investigation that takes place to determine if the use of force was justified.” “As we await these facts and gain a clearer understanding, we urge the political voices to lower the temperature to ensure their constituents and law enforcement officers stay safe,” NRA officials wrote. As the gun rights groups sounded off, so-called “armed community response” members in Minneapolis patrolled near the scene of the shooting Saturday night. At least two people were spotted at the location wearing tactical vests and open-carrying weapons. DHS is leading the investigation into the shooting, with assistance from the FBI.