Why Trump isn’t labelling Alex Pretti a ‘domestic terrorist’ like his allies: Have Minneapolis protests forced him to stay silent?

The fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis has sparked intense political and public backlash, and a curious divergence in rhetoric from President Donald Trump compared with some top Trump administration allies. While Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other senior officials publicly labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist,” Trump himself has avoided using that specific term, instead emphasizing facts, ongoing review and de-escalation amid mounting protests and bipartisan outrage.

On January 24, 2026, against the backdrop of widespread protests and a large federal immigration enforcement deployment, federal agents shot and killed Pretti, who witnesses describe as a legally armed US citizen who was filming agents and attempting to assist a woman after a clash had erupted.

Multiple video recordings shared publicly contradict early claims that Pretti aggressively threatened agents with a weapon, showing instead that he was holding only a phone at the time of the fatal shooting.


The incident followed a similar controversial shooting of another Minneapolis resident, Renée Nicole Good, by an ICE agent weeks earlier, intensifying community anger and protests.

Noem and other officials applied “domestic terrorist” label

In the immediate aftermath, Kristi Noem and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller adopted strong rhetoric, characterizing Pretti’s actions as an act of domestic terrorism and even suggesting he intended to “massacre law enforcement.”

Noem said violence “against a government because of ideological reasons … is the definition of domestic terrorism.” Miller echoed similar claims, calling Pretti an “assassin” with intent to harm federal officers.

These characterizations were criticized by some Republicans, civil rights advocates, witnesses, Pretti’s family and independent video analysts, who say there is no verified evidence that Pretti committed ideologically driven violence or posed a coherent terror threat.

Trump avoids the tag

In contrast to Noem and Miller, President Trump has not publicly labeled Pretti as harmful or a domestic terrorist. When asked about the incident in an interview, he focused on the broader context, saying his administration is “reviewing everything” about the shooting and emphasizing that he does not like any shooting.

He pointed to the fact that Pretti was carrying a gun at the protest, which Trump said “doesn’t play good,” though legal gun ownership is permitted in Minneapolis, and suggested a full investigation should lead to the administration’s findings.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later stressed that Trump had not used the “domestic terrorist” label and that he wants to let investigations lead. This shows a deliberate distancing from language used by some administration officials.

Trump also shared on social media that a productive phone call between Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (Dem.) was made. According to statements from both sides, the leaders discussed ways to address unrest, coordinate more closely on immigration enforcement, and pursue investigations into the shootings.

Trump described the call as “very good” and said they were “on a similar wavelength” about next steps.

Why Trump’s more cautious stance?

Pretti’s death triggered major protests in Minnesota and national condemnation, with demonstrators, civil rights groups and community leaders denouncing federal agents’ conduct.

Business leaders across major Minnesota companies and professional sports teams called for “immediate de-escalation” of federal enforcement operations following the shooting.

The political sensitivity created by protests likely influences Trump’s choice to dial back incendiary labeling.

The shooting has drawn bipartisan backlash, with some Republican senators calling for thorough investigations and transparency, cautioning against hasty characterizations of Pretti, and stressing constitutional rights to protest and assemble.