The knives are out in the Trump Administration this afternoon. Tensions are rising inside the Department of Homeland Security as senior Trump administration officials publicly distance themselves from earlier claims made after the murder of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, signaling internal blame shifting as investigations continue.
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The Department of Homeland Security is now walking back a Saturday statement that described Pretti as having “violently resisted” Customs and Border Protection agents and suggested he intended to “massacre law enforcement.” A DHS spokesperson told NBC News that the initial account was based on chaotic and incomplete reports from CBP personnel on the scene.
“The initial statement was based on reports from CBP from a very chaotic scene on the ground,” the spokesperson said. “That’s precisely why an investigation is underway and DHS will let the facts lead the investigation.”
The agency also appeared to retreat from comments made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who had labeled Pretti a domestic terrorist. Asked whether DHS stood by those remarks, spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin told Fox Business that the ongoing investigation was necessary to establish accurate facts.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller echoed that position, stating that DHS’s initial characterization relied on preliminary CBP reporting. He said the administration is now evaluating whether CBP personnel failed to follow proper operational protocols during the incident.
Miller had previously posted on Twitter describing Pretti as an “assassin” and a “would-be assassin” who “tried to murder federal agents.” Those posts remain online.
According to Miller, the White House had directed DHS to use additional personnel sent to Minnesota primarily for force protection and fugitive operations, creating a physical barrier between arrest teams and protesters. He said officials are examining why CBP may not have adhered to that guidance.
The Border Patrol agents involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, DHS confirmed to NBC.
The incident has also drawn international attention. The German government issued a warning to travelers in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities, cautioning that demonstrations have at times escalated into violent clashes with immigration and security authorities. Germany’s foreign ministry advised citizens to remain vigilant, avoid crowds where violence could occur, and comply with identification requirements and law enforcement instructions.
As scrutiny of federal agencies intensifies, another politically charged development emerged Wednesday in Georgia. Fox News confirmed that FBI agents raided the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center, a facility opened in 2023 to centralize election operations. The location has been a focal point for voter fraud allegations since the 2020 election. None of the allegations have been substantiated.
While the FBI declined to comment, Fox News Digital reported that the investigation is related to the 2020 election. The Department of Justice also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This raises significant concerns that the Trump Administration will be targeting state elections heading into this November.
On Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced sharp questioning over the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act. Senator Tammy Duckworth pressed Rubio on whether the wartime statute should be rescinded if the United States is not at war with Venezuela.
Rubio responded that the act was used as a mechanism to remove individuals deemed dangerous. When Duckworth directly asked whether the U.S. is at war with Venezuela, Rubio answered no. A similar interaction with Rand Paul occurred:
The exchanges capped a day of significant developments, underscoring the growing political, legal, and international ramifications surrounding federal law enforcement actions and election-related investigations.