Former U.S. President Donald Trump sharply escalated his public rhetoric on Friday by labeling Alex Pretti an “agitator” and “perhaps an insurrectionist,”.
Reigniting national controversy just days after signaling a desire to reduce tensions in Minnesota following Pretti’s fatal shooting by federal agents.
In a statement published on his Truth Social account, Trump referenced a recently circulated video recorded on January 13 that shows Pretti in a confrontation with federal immigration agents days before his death.
Trump claimed the footage depicts Pretti shouting, spitting toward an officer and kicking a government vehicle, breaking a taillight.
The former president praised the agent involved as “calm and under control” and described Pretti’s behavior as violent and erratic.
The renewed comments marked a reversal in tone after Trump earlier described Pretti’s death as “very unfortunate” and said he wanted to “de-escalate” the situation in Minneapolis, where large protests erupted after the shooting.
Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, was killed on January 24 during a federal immigration operation.
Multiple eyewitness videos from the day of the shooting have circulated widely and appear to contradict early official accounts that alleged he posed an imminent threat.
Pretti’s family responded through their attorney, Steve Schleicher, who stated that the family remains focused on securing “a fair and impartial investigation that examines the facts surrounding his killing,” rather than engaging in political attacks or speculation.
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed it has opened a federal civil-rights investigation into the case.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said investigators are reviewing all available evidence, including events leading up to the shooting.
Blanche noted that authorities are still working to determine the whereabouts of Pretti’s cellphone and the firearm he was legally carrying before his death.
The case has drawn further scrutiny because it follows another fatal encounter earlier this month involving Renee Good, who was shot and killed by a federal officer while sitting in her vehicle.
Civil-rights groups and several lawmakers argue the two deaths highlight broader concerns about the conduct of federal immigration operations in urban areas.
In the days after Pretti’s killing, Trump administration officials initially defended the agents’ actions and described Pretti as a “gunman,” a “domestic terrorist” and a “would-be assassin.”
Those characterizations were later softened after criticism from civil-liberties advocates and some Republican lawmakers. Despite that shift, Trump’s latest remarks suggest continued efforts to frame Pretti as the aggressor.
Amid the backlash, the administration reassigned Border Patrol commander-at-large Greg Bovino from the Minneapolis operation and deployed border enforcement coordinator Tom Homan to oversee efforts on the ground.
Trump also held phone conversations with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to address rising tensions.
As investigations continue, Pretti’s death remains a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement, protest policing and political rhetoric.
For many observers, Trump’s renewed comments have intensified an already polarized discussion, even as federal authorities move forward with a formal inquiry into whether Pretti’s civil rights were violated.
