Trump administration abandons aggressive rhetoric after Alex Pretti case gains repercussions

The death of nurse Alex Pretti during an action by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis led President Donald Trump’s government to abandon, within hours, the direct confrontation strategy it usually adopts in the face of political crises. The retreat occurred as images of the episode began to circulate widely on social media, weakening the initial version presented by federal authorities and increasing the public weariness of the migration offensive led by the White House.

Shortly after the shooting, which occurred on Saturday morning (24), members of the government classified Pretti, 37, as a violent threat. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security, the Border Patrol and advisers close to the president said the nurse intended to cause harm and was even described as a “domestic terrorist” and a “wannabe assassin.” These statements, however, began to lose support less than 24 hours later, when videos recorded by witnesses showed Pretti unarmed, filming the agents’ actions and trying to help a woman who had been knocked down during the approach.

Given the repercussion of the images and the negative reaction of public opinion, the official discourse was gradually changed. The White House began to talk about a full investigation of the case, reduced the focus on the victim’s conduct and shifted political responsibility to the Democratic Party. The president himself began to treat the episode as “tragic” and attributed the tense environment to what he called chaos caused by Democratic administrations.

The change in tone contrasted with the stance taken weeks earlier when another Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, also a U.S. citizen, was shot to death by a federal agent during an ICE raid. At the time, the government maintained that she had used the vehicle as a weapon against the agents, a version also contested by videos, local authorities and family members.

In Pretti’s case, the challenge was even more immediate. Analysis carried out by journalists and independent verification teams indicated that he was not holding any weapon at the time he was immobilized. Although the Department of Homeland Security claims that the nurse had a pistol and magazines, available images do not show the object during the action. Under Minnesota law, concealed carry of a weapon is permitted with a permit, which has added more complexity to the public debate.

The reaction of local authorities and part of the Republican Party itself contributed to the initial isolation of the government. The Minneapolis police chief stated that the episode is not sustainable from the point of view of public safety, while Republican governors and parliamentarians classified the federal conduct as flawed, hasty or excessively aggressive. Parliamentarians in Congress announced their intention to open hearings to investigate what happened.

In this context, Trump announced the sending of Tom Homan, known as the “border czar”, to coordinate federal action in Minnesota. Considered more experienced and less rhetorical than other members of the government involved in the crisis, Homan was presented by the president as someone “tough but fair”, in an attempt to convey greater political control of the situation. The appointment was interpreted by state authorities as a possible channel for dialogue, although without a clear sign of a change in migration policy.

The discursive inflection occurs at a time of deterioration in support rates for the government’s immigration policy. Recent polls indicate that the majority of Americans believe that ICE has been excessively strict in its operations and disapprove of the way Trump handles the issue, one of the pillars of his victorious campaign in 2024.

Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress are threatening to block resources for the Department of Homeland Security until there is greater control over ICE’s actions, which could lead to another partial government shutdown. The strategy, however, involves political risks, as immigration and public security are areas in which the party tends to record weaker performance among the electorate.

Between popular pressure, bipartisan criticism and the proximity of legislative impasses, the Trump administration is trying to recalibrate its response to the Minneapolis episode. At stake is not only the immediate management of the crisis, but the public perception of a migration policy that has become central to the president — and which now faces growing resistance even among allies.