BY MIRABEL ODETA
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Alex Pretti, the man fatally shot by a federal agent during a confrontation in Minneapolis, should not have been carrying a gun or fully loaded magazines, remarks that have put him at odds with major gun rights organizations and some members of his own Republican Party.
Speaking to reporters while visiting an Iowa restaurant, Trump was asked whether he agreed with administration officials who had described Pretti as a domestic terrorist. The president said he had not heard that characterization but stressed that Pretti’s possession of a firearm was inappropriate. “I haven’t heard that, but certainly shouldn’t have been carrying a gun,” Trump said. He later expanded on his comments, adding that Pretti had two fully loaded magazines, which he described as troubling. “He had a gun. I don’t like that. He had two fully loaded magazines. That’s a lot of bad stuff,” Trump said, calling the incident “very unfortunate.”
Pretti, who held a valid license to carry a concealed weapon, was killed on Saturday during an immigration enforcement operation conducted by federal agents in Minneapolis. The shooting quickly became a flashpoint, drawing widespread criticism from civil liberties advocates, gun rights supporters and local officials. The controversy also led the White House to order a leadership shakeup connected to the operation, signaling internal concern over how the incident was handled and initially explained to the public.
Gun rights groups, including the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America, said Pretti was legally carrying his firearm and emphasized that possessing a gun, even during a protest, is protected under U.S. law in many states. Video footage recorded by bystanders and widely circulated online appears to show that Pretti never touched his gun before he was shot, contradicting early claims by some administration officials that he posed an immediate threat to law enforcement officers on the scene.
Luis Valdes, a spokesman for Gun Owners of America, said Trump’s remarks were deeply disappointing to gun rights advocates who have long viewed the president as a strong ally. “You absolutely can walk around with a gun, and you absolutely can peacefully protest while armed,” Valdes said, describing armed protest as part of a long American tradition. “We are not happy,” he added, referring to Trump’s comments.
The National Rifle Association also responded publicly after Trump’s remarks in Iowa, issuing a statement on social media reaffirming its position. “The NRA unequivocally believes that all law-abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be,” the group said.
Gun rights organizations represent one of the Republican Party’s most reliable and influential voting blocs, and the dispute highlights a growing tension between the Trump administration and some of its traditional supporters. With midterm elections approaching in November, the fallout from the Minneapolis shooting and the president’s response has raised concerns among Republicans about potential fractures within the party’s base.
Trump made his comments while greeting supporters ahead of a scheduled speech focused on the economy. He also said his border czar, Tom Homan, had met earlier in the day with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and was expected to meet later with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, as federal, state and local officials continue to navigate the political and public reactionto the shooting.