Federal agents in Minneapolis are under scrutiny as officials 'evaluate' potential protocol breaches in the events leading to a fatal shooting. This situation has prompted a notable shift in the administration's public stance.
On January 28, 2026, at 4:46 PM, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller disclosed to ABC News that a thorough review is underway concerning why Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Minneapolis might not have adhered to established protocols during the incident that resulted in the death of Alex Pretti. Pretti, an ICU nurse employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, was fatally shot by federal agents on a Saturday.
But here's where it gets controversial... This current stance marks a departure from initial reactions. Just hours after the shooting, Miller had publicly labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist" and a "would-be assassin" without presenting any supporting evidence. Similarly, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem characterized Pretti's actions as "the definition of domestic terrorism," also without substantiation, which subsequently ignited considerable backlash.
These developments unfold as the Trump administration navigates the aftermath of Pretti's shooting, alongside the recent death of Renee Good, a mother of three, who was fatally shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on January 7. And this is the part most people miss... the administration's messaging seems to be evolving.
Miller explained his initial statement, saying, "The initial statement from DHS was based on reports from CBP on the ground." He further elaborated to ABC News, "Additionally, the White House provided clear guidance to DHS that the extra personnel that had been sent to Minnesota for force protection should be used for conducting fugitive operations to create a physical barrier between the arrest teams and the disruptors. We are evaluating why the CBP team may not have been following that protocol."
The administration has since attempted to distance itself from the strong characterizations made by Miller and Noem. Earlier this week, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche began to walk back the "domestic terrorist" label. "I don’t think anybody thinks that they were comparing what happened on Saturday to the legal definition of domestic terrorism," Blanche stated on Fox News.
When questioned by ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce about whether the president concurred with the "domestic terrorist" label for Pretti, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt steered clear of endorsing such a description. "Look, as I’ve said, I have not heard the president characterize Mr. Pretti in that way," Leavitt commented during a White House press briefing on Monday. "However, I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts in the investigation lead itself."
DHS has not yet responded to ABC News' request for comment on this matter.
What are your thoughts? Do you believe the initial strong statements were justified, or is the current evaluation a more appropriate response? Share your perspective in the comments below.
