In Donald Trump’s opinion, the US citizen Alex Pretti, who was shot dead by federal officers in Minneapolis, should not have carried a weapon.
01/28/2026, 04:0101/28/2026, 04:01
The Republican also said on a trip to the US state of Iowa:
“He had a gun. I don’t like that.”
He also had two fully loaded magazines with him. At the same time, Trump spoke of an “unfortunate incident”. According to police, Pretti was licensed to carry a firearm.
Donald Trump at the event in Iowa.Image: keystone
There is currently a debate about whether or not Pretti should have carried a gun at a protest. Governor Tim Walz repeatedly emphasized the compatibility of gun laws and the right to assembly. Republicans in particular often speak out against tightening gun laws.
On Saturday morning, Pretti was shot dead on the street during an operation by federal officers. The US government portrayed this as self-defense, but video footage gives a different impression. After the shooting, Trump posted a weapon on the Truth Social platform that Pretti was said to have been carrying. The investigation carried out by federal authorities is not yet complete. Minnesota state authorities criticized them for being kept away from the investigation.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Pretti is said to have approached the officers with a semi-automatic pistol. However, the available photographs cannot prove that the nurse had it in his hand. In Iowa, Trump said about the federal officers’ deployment that no one knew when they saw the weapon.
At the beginning of January, a US citizen was shot dead in her car during an operation by immigration officials ICE in Minneapolis. At that time, too, the US government spoke of self-defense. Here, too, video footage gives a different impression: Renee Good, who was shot shortly afterwards, did not drive her car toward the ICE officers, as the Trump administration claimed, but away from them. Nevertheless, one of them, Jonathan Ross, pulled the trigger and shot Good in the head.
The operations of federal officials are part of the Trump administration’s rigorous deportation policy. They are looking for foreigners who are said to be in the USA without valid residence documents. The US government often speaks of criminals in general terms.
In the USA it is common for citizens to carry weapons. The 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution allows the possession and bearing of weapons. In the state of Minnesota, access to weapons is more strictly regulated. (sda/dpa/con)