U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Alex Pretti, the man fatally shot by a federal agent during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, should not have been carrying a firearm or fully loaded magazines, comments that have deepened tensions with gun rights groups and some members of his own party.
Speaking to reporters while greeting supporters at a restaurant in Iowa, Trump questioned Pretti’s decision to be armed, even as questions continue over whether the shooting was justified. Pretti was killed on Saturday during a confrontation with federal agents, an incident that sparked public outrage and led to leadership changes ordered by the White House.
The president said he was unaware of claims by some administration officials who had described Pretti as a domestic terrorist but maintained that carrying a weapon during such an encounter was inappropriate. “I haven’t heard that,” Trump said, referring to the label. “But he certainly shouldn’t have been carrying a gun.”
Trump later expanded on his comments, saying the presence of ammunition escalated the situation. “He had a gun. I don’t like that,” he said. “He had two fully loaded magazines. That’s a lot of bad stuff. And despite that, I’d say that’s very unfortunate.”
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Pretti was a licensed concealed weapons holder under Minnesota law, a fact cited by gun rights advocates who say the shooting raises serious concerns about the use of force by federal agents. Bystander video of the incident, which circulated widely online, appears to show that Pretti never reached for his weapon before he was shot, contradicting initial statements from some officials who suggested he posed an immediate threat.
The Gun Owners of America, a prominent gun rights organisation, criticised Trump’s remarks, saying they conflict with long standing legal protections for armed citizens. “You absolutely can walk around with a gun, and you absolutely can peacefully protest while armed,” said Luis Valdes, a spokesperson for the group. “It’s an American historical tradition that dates all the way back to the Boston Tea Party.”
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Valdes added that the organisation was unhappy with the president’s comments, which he said risked undermining lawful gun ownership.
The National Rifle Association also weighed in after Trump’s remarks, reiterating its stance on the right to bear arms. In a statement posted on X on Tuesday evening, the group said it “unequivocally believes that all law abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be.”
Gun rights organisations are among the Republican Party’s most reliable voting blocs, and Trump’s comments have exposed a growing rift within conservative circles ahead of the November midterm elections. Several Republican lawmakers have privately expressed concern that the administration’s handling of the case could alienate core supporters.
Trump made his comments as he travelled through Iowa ahead of a scheduled speech focused on the economy. He also said his border czar, Tom Homan, had met earlier with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and was expected to meet Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey later on Tuesday as federal and local officials seek to contain fallout from the shooting.
The Minneapolis incident has renewed national debate over the conduct of federal agents during enforcement operations, particularly in states with permissive gun laws. Civil rights groups have called for an independent investigation, while the Justice Department has said it is reviewing the circumstances surrounding Pretti’s death.
