White House Backtracks After Officials Label Alex Pretti 'Domestic Terrorist'
Administration officials initially labeled Alex Pretti a domestic terrorist after his Jan. 24 death, then softened statements as video contradicted early accounts.
Overview
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller described 37-year-old Alex Pretti as a "domestic terrorist" within hours of his Jan. 24 killing, and a DHS post at 11:31 a.m. CT said he "wanted to do maximum damage," records show.
Video footage circulating online showed Pretti’s gun was not brandished and agents removed it before he was shot, and a DHS review released days later omitted claims that he had brandished the weapon, according to the review and video analysis.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a Jan. 26 news conference that she "had not heard the president characterize Mr. Pretti in that way," while Stephen Miller said on Jan. 27 that initial Customs and Border Protection reports "may have erred," officials confirmed.
President Donald Trump removed Border Patrol commander-at-large Gregory Bovino and named Tom Homan to oversee the Minneapolis operation, and 15 administration and law enforcement sources said the episode prompted interagency blame-casting and a partial federal drawdown.
DHS is investigating the Jan. 24 shooting, two agents who fired their weapons have been placed on administrative leave, and Republican committee chairs have issued subpoenas to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as oversight and reviews continue, officials said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Miller as the architect of dangerous, militarized immigration tactics, using loaded terms (“menace,” “militarism,” “smeared”), prioritizing critical voices and video evidence, and juxtaposing officials’ claims with contradicting footage. Editorial choices—wording, selective source emphasis, and curated quotes—create a narrative of deceit and political performance.
Sources (12)
FAQ
Federal agents pursued someone into a donut shop in Minneapolis. Pretti, observing nearby, was sprayed with OC spray, pinned to the ground, had his gun removed by an agent, and was then shot multiple times by two agents while lying motionless.
Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old intensive care nurse for the US Department of Veterans Affairs, a legal gun owner with a permit, and no criminal record.
Officials initially claimed Pretti brandished a handgun and agents fired defensively after attempting to disarm him. Video showed his gun was not brandished, was removed before shooting, and agents fired after he was pinned and not posing a threat.
The White House backtracked on labeling Pretti a domestic terrorist. President Trump removed Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino and appointed Tom Homan. Two agents were placed on administrative leave, DHS is investigating, and subpoenas were issued to Secretary Kristi Noem.
History
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