Several Republican lawmakers and governors publicly broke with President Donald Trump following the fatal shooting of a man by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, was shot and killed Saturday while filming Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents on a Minneapolis street.
The shooting occurred weeks after another fatal incident involving ICE agents in the city, in which protester Renee Nicole Good was killed.
The Trump administration has defended the shooting, saying the agent fired “defensive shots” after Pretti was armed.
Federal authorities said a firearm was recovered at the scene.
Today, exclusively on @SundayFutures with @MariaBartiromo, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer @RepJamesComer spoke about the investigation into the Minnesota shooting. @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/L8qtgZqhjM
— SundayMorningFutures (@SundayFutures) January 25, 2026
House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said federal agents should consider leaving Minneapolis to prevent further loss of life.
“If I were Trump, I would almost think… there’s a chance of losing more innocent lives, then maybe go to another city and let the people of Minneapolis decide,” Comer said during an appearance on “Sunday Morning Futures.”
“Let the people of Minneapolis decide, ‘Do we want to continue to have all of these illegals? Are we going to allow our governor, attorney general and mayor to get away with this?’ And I think the people of Minnesota would rebel against their leadership,” he noted.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said Comer was “GREAT in his Interview this morning with Maria Bartiromo.”
“He said it all concerning Minnesota, Deranged Jack Smith, and many other topics of interest,” Trump added.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., called for an impartial investigation, saying officer-involved shootings require transparency and cooperation among all levels of government.
“There must be a thorough and impartial investigation into yesterday’s Minneapolis shooting,” Tillis wrote on the social platform X.
There must be a thorough and impartial investigation into yesterday’s Minneapolis shooting, which is the basic standard that law enforcement and the American people expect following any officer-involved shooting. For this specific incident, that requires cooperation and…
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) January 25, 2026
“Any administration official who rushes to judgment and tries to shut down an investigation before it begins are doing an incredible disservice to the nation and to President Trump’s legacy.”
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., described Pretti’s death as “incredibly disturbing” and said the credibility of ICE and the Department of Homeland Security was at stake.
Cassidy called for a joint federal and state investigation and said the public should be given full transparency.
The events in Minneapolis are incredibly disturbing. The credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake. There must be a full joint federal and state investigation. We can trust the American people with the truth.
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) January 25, 2026
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, said he disagreed with aspects of the Trump administration’s immigration policy and described Pretti’s death as a tragedy.
“Americans are asking themselves, what is the endgame? What is the solution?” Stitt said during an appearance on *State of the Union*.
He said Americans do not want to deport “every single non-U.S. citizen” and called for broader immigration reform.
Oklahoma GOP Governor Kevin Stitt criticizes ICE: “What is the endgame? What’s the goal right now? Is it to deport every single non-US citizen? I don’t think that’s what Americans want.” pic.twitter.com/O65NMlqLDb
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) January 25, 2026
When asked whether ICE agents should be withdrawn from Minnesota, Stitt pointed out that the decision ultimately rests with the president.
“He is a dealmaker, and he’s getting bad advice right now. The president needs to tell the American people,” Stitt responded.
“What is the solution? How do we bring this to conclusion? And I think only the president can answer that question because it’s complicated.”
“We have to enforce federal laws, but we need to know what is the endgame?” he questioned. “And I don’t think it’s to deport every single non-U.S. citizen.”
Republican Washington state Rep. Michael Baumgartner said he was “disturbed” by video footage from the incident.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., reiterated his request that officials from DHS and ICE testify before Congress in the coming weeks.
“It is critical that Congress conduct its due diligence to ensure the safety of law enforcement officers and the communities they protect,” Garbarino remarked, adding that recent events would be addressed during the hearing.
Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, also called for an investigation and supported requests for testimony from leaders of ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“I am troubled by the events that have unfolded in Minneapolis,” McCaul wrote on X.
I am troubled by the events that have unfolded in Minneapolis. As an attorney and former federal prosecutor, I believe a thorough investigation is necessary—both to get to the bottom of these incidents and to maintain Americans’ confidence in our justice system.
I look forward… https://t.co/8LKEMWlnIB
— Michael McCaul (@RepMcCaul) January 25, 2026
“As an attorney and former federal prosecutor, I believe a thorough investigation is necessary—both to get to the bottom of these incidents and to maintain Americans’ confidence in our justice system.”
Administration officials offered differing accounts of the incident during weekend media appearances.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that it was unclear whether Pretti had been disarmed before he was shot.
Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino said Pretti was attempting to impede law enforcement and argued that constitutional protections do not apply when individuals obstruct officers during enforcement operations. Bovino said Pretti’s presence constituted a threat.
During an interview on “State of the Union,” host Dana Bash pressed Bovino for evidence that Pretti assaulted officers or engaged in conduct outside First or Second Amendment protections.
FBI Director Kash Patel offered a different assessment, saying individuals do not have the right to bring loaded firearms with multiple magazines to protests.
“You don’t have a right to break the law,” Patel said during an appearance on “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Minneapolis law enforcement officials have said Pretti was legally carrying a firearm at the time of the incident.
President Trump said he was dissatisfied with the outcome of the encounter but expressed concern about armed individuals attending protests.
“I don’t like any shooting,” Trump told The Wall Street Journal. “But I don’t like it when somebody goes into a protest and he’s got a very powerful, fully-loaded gun with two magazines loaded up with bullets also.”
Trump said his administration is reviewing the incident and did not rule out withdrawing immigration enforcement officials from Minneapolis.
“We’re looking, we’re reviewing everything and will come out with a determination,” Trump said. “At some point we will leave.”
