In Minneapolis, the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, who was legally carrying a firearm, by a federal law enforcement officer has sparked significant backlash from influential Republicans and advocates for gun ownership. These groups expressed their dissatisfaction with the White House's initial handling of the narrative, which appeared to attribute blame to Pretti himself for his death due to his lawful possession of a weapon.
The incident, occurring earlier this month, has yet to prompt clear shifts in national firearm policies. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has made notable personnel changes in his immigration enforcement leadership. Meanwhile, key figures within Trump's coalition have urged an in-depth investigation into Pretti’s death and criticized contradictory Republican positions regarding the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms.
Should this contentious dynamic continue, it could pose electoral challenges for Republicans in a midterm year, especially as public skepticism about immigration strategies grows. Recognizing this, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, publicly reaffirmed the administration’s support for lawful gun ownership, stating, “The president supports the right to bear arms enshrined in the Second Amendment for law-abiding citizens, absolutely.” She also cautioned that confronting police officers while armed elevates the risk of force being used.
This stance marked a retreat from earlier administration statements shortly after Pretti’s death. Federal Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino, shortly after the incident, suggested Pretti intended to “massacre the police,” while Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti was “wielding” a firearm and behaving violently toward officers. Noem also remarked, “I do not know of any peaceful protester who shows up with a gun and ammunition instead of a sign.”
Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff and a key architect of Trump’s immigration deportation efforts, went further by labeling Pretti as “a killer” on social media platform X.
Contradicting these assertions, videos captured by bystanders reveal Pretti holding a cellphone and assisting a woman who had been pepper-sprayed by federal agents. In these clips, Pretti himself was quickly pepper-sprayed and subdued by multiple officers. No released video shows him drawing his weapon, which he was legally permitted to carry; rather, footage depicts an officer confiscating the weapon moments before gunfire erupted. These videos quickly gained widespread attention across online platforms and television broadcasts.
Despite these visual accounts, Vice President JD Vance reposted Miller’s evaluation, and Trump shared an image purportedly showing Pretti’s firearm loaded with two additional full magazines.
The National Rifle Association (NRA), a longstanding supporter of Trump, issued a statement initially blaming Minnesota Democrats for fueling protests. However, the NRA later rebuked a federal prosecutor’s social media comment suggesting that approaching police while armed justifies shooting, calling the statement “dangerous and incorrect.”
Further controversy arose when FBI Director Kash Patel stated on Fox News’s "Sunday Morning Futures" that individuals cannot lawfully bring loaded firearms with multiple magazines to protests, declaring, “It’s that simple.” In response, Erich Pratt, vice president of Gun Owners of America, expressed disbelief, noting on CNN his experience attending armed protests without incidents.
Conservative officials across the country emphasized the alignment of the First and Second Amendments, with Tennessee State Representative Jeremy Faison, leader of his party’s caucus, asserting on X that attending protests armed is a distinctly American act. Former Vice President Mike Pence called for “a full and transparent investigation” into the shooting involving the federal agent.
Observers across the political spectrum noted differences between current administrative reactions and historical right-wing positions. Numerous Trump supporters were armed during the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack and subsequently received pardons from Trump. Republicans criticized penalties against Mark and Patricia McCloskey for pointing firearms at protesters in St. Louis in 2020 following George Floyd’s killing, and widely supported Kyle Rittenhouse, acquitted after fatally shooting two individuals during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Former Republican Congressman and Trump defense attorney Trey Gowdy highlighted these inconsistencies, pointing out that Pretti was legally carrying his weapon and never brandished it. UCLA law professor Adam Winkler remarked on the tribal nature of the debate, noting Republicans previously framed the Second Amendment as protection against government tyranny but abandon that view when invoked by individuals perceived as left-leaning, while Democrats selectively criticize open gun carrying except in Pretti’s case.
This internal discord arises as Republicans seek to defend a fragile House majority and contest a number of competitive Senate seats in the 2024 midterms. Republican officials and White House spokespeople showed reluctance to engage on the topic publicly as the political stakes rise.
Representative Richard Hudson, leading the Republican House campaign and sponsor of bipartisan legislation promoting reciprocal concealed carry permits across states, did not comment on whether recent events in Minneapolis might influence the bill’s prospects. The legislation, approved by the House Judiciary Committee last fall, remains pending.
Over recent decades, pro-gun advocates have secured numerous legislative victories in Republican-controlled state legislatures, including the repeal of gun-free zones near schools and churches and expansion of firearm possession rights in educational institutions and public spaces.
William Sack, legal director of the Second Amendment Foundation, expressed surprise and disappointment regarding the administration's initial remarks about Pretti, suggesting that such rhetoric could alienate a crucial voter base.
Kimberlee Kruesi contributed to this report from Providence, Rhode Island.