Trump Shifts Minneapolis Strategy After Fatal Shooting

President Donald Trump adopted a more conciliatory tone with Minnesota's Democratic leaders on Monday, a stark reversal following intense public outcry over the second fatal shooting by federal agents in the state this month.

The change in approach follows the killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents on Saturday, an event that fueled doubts—even among some Republicans—about the Trump administration's aggressive nationwide crackdown on undocumented immigrants and its confrontation with protesters.

A makeshift memorial with candles and flowers marks the site where Alex Pretti was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis.

This pivot is the latest instance of Trump taking a hardline stance only to retreat later.

A Familiar Pattern of Retreat

This pattern has been visible in recent foreign and trade policy decisions.

• Iran: Earlier this month, Trump threatened military action against Iran if it used lethal force against anti-government protests. After human rights groups reported thousands killed, Trump held off, citing assurances from Tehran that it would suspend hundreds of executions.

• European Tariffs: Last week, Trump announced new tariffs on European allies who opposed his plan for the U.S. to control Greenland. He abruptly canceled them after claiming the "framework" of an agreement had been reached, offering few details a day after his tariff threat triggered a major stock market decline.

Federal Overhaul in Minneapolis

On Monday, the Trump administration restructured its immigration operation in Minnesota. Trump, known for his combative style, adopted a warmer tone toward Governor Tim Walz after a phone call, stating they were now on a "similar wavelength."

This was a significant turnabout, as Trump had promised uncompromising mass deportations during his 2024 campaign and had personally attacked Walz and other Minnesota Democrats for opposing his policies.

The president announced he had sent border czar Tom Homan to oversee the situation. A source familiar with the matter stated that senior Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and some agents were expected to depart Minneapolis as soon as Tuesday.

On social media, Trump declared that Walz "was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I!"

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey later confirmed that some agents would be leaving the city after his own conversation with Trump. Frey suggested the president appeared to recognize that the current federal operations were unsustainable. A meeting between Homan and Frey was anticipated for Tuesday.

Growing Bipartisan Backlash

Trump's policy shift in Minnesota came after some Republicans began questioning the federal agents' tactics and the White House's official narrative. Top administration officials had labeled Pretti a domestic terrorist, a claim contradicted by video footage of the encounter.

The criticism from within his own party was notable:

• Chris Madel, a Minneapolis attorney and Republican gubernatorial candidate, ended his campaign in a surprise video, calling the immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities an "unmitigated disaster." He announced he no longer wanted to be a member of the party over the issue.

• Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a staunch supporter of Trump's immigration crackdown, said in a radio interview that the White House needed to "recalibrate" its Minnesota operations.

• Vermont's Republican Governor Phil Scott called for Trump to de-escalate, stating, "At best, these federal immigration operations are a complete failure... At worst, it's a deliberate federal intimidation and incitement of American citizens that's resulting in the murder of Americans."

From Harsh Rhetoric to Conciliation

The president's new approach toward Governor Walz marked a sharp reversal. Just a day earlier, Trump's deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, had accused Walz on social media of trying to "incite attacks on" U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The White House social media team had called the governor "a truly disturbed, unstable individual" and an "unhinged lunatic."

Miller also referred to Pretti, a nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, as a "would-be assassin." Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled the nurse's actions an act of domestic terrorism.

The White House did not address whether Trump endorsed his aides' rhetoric or if an apology would be issued. "This incident remains under investigation," press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. "And nobody here at the White House, including the president of the United States, wants to see Americans hurt or killed."

A Muted Response to American Deaths

Trump's response to the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis has been notably more subdued compared to his reactions to other political violence.

After conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September, the president delivered an Oval Office address, calling it "a dark moment for America." In November, he gave a national address after an Afghan national shot two National Guard members in Washington, killing one, calling it "an act of evil."

However, the president has not yet directly addressed the nation regarding the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good, another U.S. citizen killed by federal agents in Minneapolis this month. So far, he has relied mainly on social media posts to communicate on the matter.

Even as Trump appeared to de-escalate, his chief spokesperson, Leavitt, continued to blame Walz and Minnesota Democrats for encouraging "left-wing agitators to stop, record, confront and obstruct federal officers."

"This is precisely what unfolded in Minneapolis on Saturday morning," Leavitt added.