Breaking — Trump Blinks on Minnesota After Pretti Execution
After ICE shot a subdued man ten times—on video, from multiple angles—even Republicans are calling for the regime to stand down.
While others stenograph, grift, or chase the next distraction—this is the news that matters and how it's connected.
They executed him in broad daylight.
Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, was wrestled to the ground by six or seven federal agents. Videos shot from multiple angles show a passive man—not fighting, not resisting. The only thing in his hands was a phone.1
The agents discovered a gun on his body. One of them appears to disarm him.
Then they shot him. Ten times.¹
That’s not self-defense. That’s an execution.
The Lies
Within hours, the regime launched its smear campaign.
Stephen Miller called Pretti “a would-be assassin” who “tried to murder federal law enforcement.”¹
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem—the self-proclaimed dog executioner—claimed the killing was justified: “This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement.”¹
Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino went further, claiming Pretti “wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.”¹ Then came the obscene punchline: Bovino said the agents were the real victims.¹
But Karoline Leavitt went furthest. She blamed Pretti for his own death. He “raised the assumption of risk,” she said, by carrying a gun.2 That’s the Second Amendment party telling you: exercise your rights around federal agents and you deserve to die.
The video shows a man holding a phone. Not fighting. Not resisting. Disarmed. Shot.
They know you can see the footage. They’re lying anyway. That’s not spin—that’s contempt for your intelligence.
The Cracks
Now the regime is scrambling.
On Monday, Trump called Governor Tim Walz—the same man he accused of “inciting Insurrection” just days earlier.² According to Walz’s office, Trump agreed to “look into” reducing federal agents in Minnesota and to speak with DHS about allowing an independent state investigation.3
That’s not a commitment. “Look into” is the language of a con man stalling for time.
The tell? Trump made the call at all.
The pressure is coming from everywhere—and not just from Democrats. The House Homeland Security Chairman, Republican Andrew Garbarino, is demanding ICE and CBP leaders testify.4 Senator Bill Cassidy called the situation “incredibly disturbing” and said “the credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake.”⁴ Even James Comer—Trump ally, House Oversight Chairman—suggested pulling ICE out of Minnesota entirely.⁴
When James Comer is telling you to back off, you’ve overplayed your hand.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board called for Trump to “pause ICE enforcement in the Twin Cities.”⁴ That’s not MSNBC. That’s the house organ of American conservatism saying: you’ve gone too far.
The Real Pressure
The phone call wasn’t magnanimity. It was damage control.
A federal judge is currently weighing whether to declare the entire Minnesota operation—”Operation Metro Surge”—illegal.² Judge Kate Menendez has been openly skeptical of the administration’s arguments. When a DOJ attorney tried to claim the surge had nothing to do with coercing Minnesota into compliance, Menendez shot back: “You’re asking me to believe that the surge has nothing to do with coercing the Plaintiffs into changing their policies.”²
Attorney General Pam Bondi sent Walz a letter demanding voter rolls and welfare data in exchange for de-escalation.² That’s not diplomacy. That’s a ransom note.
If the court rules against them, the regime loses all leverage. So Trump called Walz to grab whatever wins he could—a “cooperation” narrative—before a judge forces him out with nothing.
What This Means
The regime murdered a man in broad daylight. They lied about it. They called him a terrorist while the video showed him holding a phone. And now, facing pressure from their own party, their own media, and the federal courts, they’re scrambling for an exit.
Let’s be clear about what this is: a PR move, not a retreat.
“Look into” is not a commitment. The agents who executed Alex Pretti haven’t been charged. The occupation continues. The White House is still issuing demands. Nothing has changed on the ground.
But the regime flinched. That’s not victory—it’s leverage. And leverage only matters if you use it.
Keep pushing.
The Call
This isn’t an isolated incident. We track stories like this using the fascism syndrome—ten indicators that a democracy is sliding into fascism—so you don’t lose the thread in the daily chaos:
War on reality: The video shows a passive man shot in the back after being disarmed. The administration calls him a would-be assassin planning a massacre.
Normalization of political violence: A citizen executed by federal agents. The White House response: he “raised the assumption of risk” by exercising his Second Amendment rights.
Weaponized justice: The agents who killed Pretti face no charges. Minnesota officials who demanded an investigation are accused of “inciting insurrection.”
Erosion of due process: Federal agents blocked state investigators from the crime scene. A judge had to issue a restraining order to preserve evidence.
Execute citizens. Lie about it. Blame the victims. Obstruct justice. That’s not law enforcement. That’s fascism.
But we’re not here just to tell you the house is on fire.
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Sean Woods, “The Trump Administration’s Lies Insult the Intelligence of Every American“, Rolling Stone, January 26, 2026.
Comprehensive breakdown of the administration’s lies about both the Renee Good and Alex Pretti killings. Documents the video evidence showing Pretti passive and holding only a phone, being disarmed, then shot by multiple agents. Quotes Stephen Miller calling Pretti “a would-be assassin,” Kristi Noem claiming he arrived to “inflict maximum damage,” and Gregory Bovino’s claim that Pretti wanted to “massacre law enforcement”—with Bovino adding that the agents were “the real victims.” Confirms federal agents left the scene and blocked local authorities from examining evidence.
Victoria Bekiempis, Lucy Campbell, and Yohannes Lowe, “Donald Trump agrees to ‘look into’ pulling some ICE agents out of Minnesota, says Tim Walz’s office“, The Guardian, January 26, 2026.
Live coverage of the day’s developments including the Trump-Walz phone call, Judge Kate Menendez’s skeptical questioning of DOJ attorneys, and her characterization of AG Bondi’s letter as “a ransom note.” Documents the White House’s three demands for withdrawing CBP support and Karoline Leavitt’s victim-blaming statement that carrying a weapon while confronting law enforcement “raises the assumption of risk.”
Sam Stein, “Statement from Walz’s Office“, X, January 26, 2026.
Full statement from Governor Walz’s office following the phone call with Trump. Documents that Trump agreed to speak with DHS about allowing the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to conduct an independent investigation and agreed to “look into” reducing federal agents in Minnesota.
Nia Prater, “Trump Changes Tack in Minnesota After Rare GOP Pushback“, NY Mag/Intelligencer, January 26, 2026.
Documents the rare Republican pushback on the Minnesota operation. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (House Homeland Security Chair) requesting testimony from ICE, CBP, and USCIS leaders. Sen. Bill Cassidy calling the situation “incredibly disturbing.” Sen. Thom Tillis warning that officials who “rush to judgment” are doing “an incredible disservice to President Trump’s legacy.” Rep. James Comer suggesting Trump pull ICE out entirely. The Wall Street Journal editorial board calling for Trump to “pause ICE enforcement in the Twin Cities.”
The idea of anybody "massacring" an ICE agent is ludicrous. Where could he even have shot them? Those guys have more body armor than a Sherman tank.
Thank you for this amazing headline--it's an art that was *perfection* here.