'ICE Had To Protect Themselves': Trump Accuses Minnesota Governor, Mayor Of 'Inciting Insurrection'

Last Updated:January 25, 2026, 07:37 IST

Trump alleged that officers were left with no choice but to defend themselves, writing that police had been “called off” by city and state leaders.

ICE officers shot dead Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and US citizen, triggering widespread protests in US | Image: AFP

US President Donald Trump has sharply criticised Minnesota’s Democratic leadership following the fatal shooting of a man by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, alleging a “cover-up" and accusing state and city officials of obstructing federal law enforcement.

The incident occurred when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers shot dead Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and US citizen.

Authorities later confirmed that Pretti was legally carrying a handgun and had a valid permit.

Trump reacted on Truth Social within hours of the shooting, sharing an image of a firearm and claiming local leaders had failed to support immigration enforcement in what he described as a Democratic stronghold.

In a series of posts, Trump said the man who was killed was armed and suggested local police were deliberately prevented from assisting federal officers.

He alleged that officers were left with no choice but to defend themselves, writing that police had been “called off" by city and state leaders.

Trump also escalated his criticism by levelling unsubstantiated accusations of large-scale corruption against Minnesota officials, including Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.

He claimed billions of dollars had been stolen from the state and alleged that federal officers were in Minnesota to investigate financial fraud and address what he called the consequences of “open border" policies.

In a follow-up post, he reiterated his assertion that the shooting was being used to distract from alleged financial misconduct.

Local authorities and federal officials provided a different account. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed the death of a 37-year-old man and said he was legally carrying a firearm.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said ICE officers fired “defensive shots" after a man approached them with a handgun and violently resisted attempts to disarm him. Senior White House adviser Stephen Miller echoed that account, saying officers acted in self-defence.

Democratic leaders strongly condemned the shooting. Ilhan Omar described the incident as “an execution by immigration enforcement" and accused the Trump administration of attempting to intimidate communities rather than protect them.

Other prominent Democrats, including Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, voiced similar concerns.

The shooting has intensified tensions in Minneapolis, where daily protests have been ongoing since the January 7 killing of Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman who died after an ICE officer fired into her vehicle during a separate operation.

Following Saturday’s incident, demonstrators gathered near the scene, chanting slogans demanding ICE leave the city.

Governor Tim Walz was the first state official to confirm the fatal shooting publicly, while Vice President JD Vance defended the federal response, saying immigration officers were deployed to Minnesota to carry out their duties and were being obstructed by state leadership.

News world 'ICE Had To Protect Themselves': Trump Accuses Minnesota Governor, Mayor Of 'Inciting Insurrection'

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