President Donald Trump is facing backlash over his remarks following the death of anti-ICE protestor Alex Pretti.
Alex Pretti, aged 37, was shot and killed in the streets of Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24. His death follows the recent killing of Renee Good in her vehicle.
The circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death have sparked conflicting narratives from officials, his family, and eyewitnesses.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that federal immigration agents fired shots in self-defense, alleging that Pretti was armed with a handgun. This account is disputed, with witnesses and family members asserting that Pretti was holding a phone, not a gun.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that Pretti ‘approached US border patrol officers with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun,’ though she did not confirm whether he had drawn the weapon.
US border patrol official Greg Bovino added, “The agents attempted to disarm the individual, but he violently resisted. Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, a border patrol agent fired defensive shots.
“This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.”
Several videos of the incident have circulated online. The Guardian, after reviewing one video, reported that Pretti appeared to be holding a phone, not a gun.
The publication claims that videos do not depict Pretti—who was legally permitted to carry a firearm—holding a gun at any point.
In the footage reviewed, Pretti is seen standing on the street, holding up his phone to record an officer.
In another video, Pretti is seen intervening to protect a woman who was allegedly pushed down by an officer.
It’s at this moment that Pretti is repeatedly sprayed with a chemical agent and brought down to the ground.
Subsequent witness videos show agents surrounding Pretti while one officer purportedly bends down and then steps away holding what appears to be a gun.
Moments later, shots are fired.
, and ready to go – What is that all about?</p>
<p>“Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers? The Mayor and the Governor called them off?</p>
<p>“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!”</p>
<p>He continued: “Why does Ilhan Omar have $34 Million Dollars in her account? And where are the Tens of Billions of Dollars that have been stolen from the once Great State of Minnesota? We are there because of massive Monetary Fraud, with Billions of Dollars missing, and Illegal Criminals that were allowed to infiltrate the State through the Democrats’ Open Border Policy. We want the money back, and we want it back, NOW. Those Fraudsters who stole the money are going to jail, where they belong! This is no different than a really big Bank Robbery. Much of what you’re witnessing is a COVER UP for this Theft and Fraud.</p>
<p>“The Mayor and the Governor are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric! Instead, these sanctimonious political fools should be looking for the Billions of Dollars that has been stolen from the people of Minnesota, and the United States of America. LET OUR ICE PATRIOTS DO THEIR JOB! 12,000 Illegal Alien Criminals, many of them violent, have been arrested and taken out of Minnesota. If they were still there, you would see something far worse than you are witnessing today!”</p>
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<p>Critics have denounced Trump’s statements, with one individual calling him ‘evil’ and another noting: “President Trump just posted this and it includes an allegation that the Governor of Minnesota and Mayor of Minneapolis are inciting an insurrection.”</p>
<p>Efforts to seek comments from The White House have been made.</p>
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