A lawful gun owner lay dead from federal bullets, yet the NRA rebuked President Trump himself for questioning his right to carry—exposing a shocking fracture in America’s conservative core.
Story Snapshot
- Federal agents shot Alex Pretti, a permitted VA nurse, during a Minneapolis immigration clash; his holstered gun never fired.
- Trump criticized Pretti’s loaded handgun and magazines, prompting rare NRA defiance on Second Amendment grounds.
- DHS called Pretti a “domestic terrorist,” but CBP memo and video contradict claims he brandished his weapon.
- Incident fuels Noem impeachment calls, GOP divisions, and debates over armed citizens amid enforcement raids.
Federal Agents Shoot Lawful Gun Owner in Minneapolis
Alex Pretti, 37-year-old VA nurse and U.S. citizen with a valid permit, encountered CBP personnel in Minneapolis during immigration enforcement. He resisted custody, sparking a struggle. A Border Patrol agent shouted “He’s got a gun” multiple times. Five seconds later, the agent fired a Glock 19 while a CBP officer discharged a Glock 47. Agents then secured Pretti’s holstered Sig Sauer P320, which showed no discharge. Paramedics took him to Hennepin County Medical Center at 9:14 a.m., where he died.
Trump Blames the Victim, NRA Fires Back
President Trump, departing the White House and speaking in Iowa, declared Pretti “shouldn’t have been carrying a gun” with “two fully loaded magazines. That’s a lot of bad stuff.” He called the incident “very unfortunate” but opposed armed encounters. The NRA responded swiftly: “All law-abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be.” This marked their first major clash with Trump, defending Pretti’s constitutional protections.
DHS Narrative Crumbles Under Evidence
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and adviser Stephen Miller initially claimed Pretti “approached officers with a handgun” and “reacted violently,” dubbing it “domestic terrorism.” They released a photo of his loaded 9mm post-shooting. A CBS-obtained CBP memo to Congress on January 27, 2026, revealed two agents fired with no evidence Pretti brandished or discharged his weapon. Video footage aligned with Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara’s statement: no proof of brandishing.
These facts undermine DHS assertions. Common sense aligns with the NRA: lawful carriers pose no inherent threat. Labeling a holstered, permitted gun “terrorism” reeks of overreach, especially against a citizen nurse—not an illegal migrant.
NRA Pushes Back After Trump Suggests Alex Pretti 'Shouldn't Have Been Carrying a Gun' https://t.co/TmZWc1Jf9F
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) January 28, 2026
Stakeholders Clash in Political Firestorm
FBI Director Kash Patel criticized Pretti’s full magazines at a “protest,” framing him as non-peaceful. The National Association for Gun Rights rebuked: “Carrying an extra magazine implies nothing.” Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries and Gavin Newsom demanded Noem’s firing, crowing “Trump’s lost the NRA.” GOP Senators Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis urged her to step down. Power shifted as NRA influenced the pro-gun base against Trump’s immigration priorities.
Links to Broader Crackdown and Precedents
This shooting echoes Renee Good’s death by federal agents in Minneapolis on January 7, both tied to Trump’s sanctuary city raids. Such enforcement escalated clashes with armed bystanders asserting rights. Long-term, Patel’s rhetoric risks precedents for protest carry bans and magazine limits, straining Trump alliances with gun groups. Short-term, it divides Republicans, heightens sanctuary tensions, and invites DHS lawsuits. Protests swell over video-memo discrepancies; investigations continue.
Sources:
TIME: NRA Pushes Back After Trump Suggests Alex Pretti ‘Shouldn’t Have Been Carrying a Gun’
