‘A Wake-Up Call’: Obamas Condemn Trump and ICE Tactics After Minneapolis Killing

MINNEAPOLIS — Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama issued a scathing joint statement on Sunday, characterizing the recent fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal immigration agents as an “assault” on the nation’s core values.

The statement follows the Saturday killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. Pretti was shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a surge of federal activity in the Twin Cities—the second such fatal encounter in the city this month following the death of Renee Good.

‘Acting With Impunity’

The Obamas’ statement did not mince words regarding the tactics employed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the Trump administration.

“For weeks now, people across the country have been rightly outraged by the spectacle of masked ICE recruits and other federal agents acting with impunity and engaging in tactics that seem designed to intimidate, harass, provoke and endanger the residents of a major American city,” the couple said.

They described the escalation as a “heartbreaking tragedy” that should serve as a “wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.”

Contradicting the Official Narrative

The former president and first lady also took aim at the White House's public defense of the shooting. While Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti brandished a gun—a sentiment echoed by President Trump on social media—eyewitness videos and sworn testimony suggest Pretti was holding a phone, not a weapon.

“The President and current administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation, while offering public explanations for the shootings... that aren’t informed by any serious investigation and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence,” the Obamas stated.

A City Under Siege

The shooting has pushed Minneapolis to a breaking point. Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz have both demanded that federal agents leave the city, accusing the administration of “hiding facts” and “recklessly using power.”

The Obamas lent their support to the thousands of protesters who have taken to the streets despite extreme cold. “They are a timely reminder that ultimately it’s up to each of us as citizens to speak out against injustice, protect our basic freedoms and hold our government accountable,” the statement read.

Political Fallout

The intervention by the Obamas comes at a critical moment in Washington. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has already signaled that his party will attempt to block DHS funding in upcoming budget negotiations unless there are significant reforms to rein in ICE’s paramilitary-style operations.

As of Sunday afternoon, the White House has not formally responded to the Obamas' statement, though Vice President JD Vance earlier dismissed the unrest in Minneapolis as “engineered chaos” facilitated by “far-left agitators.”

Key Quotes from the Statement:

• "Many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault."

• "This killing is not an isolated incident. It is part of a broader pattern."

• "It’s up to each of us as citizens to speak out against injustice."