Obamas Slam Trump Over Alex Pretti Killing Amid Minneapolis Unrest

MINNEAPOLIS — Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama issued a blistering statement Sunday, condemning the Trump administration's "assault" on national values following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.

The killing of Pretti, a VA hospital nurse and lawful gun owner, has sparked nationwide protests and a high-stakes standoff between Minnesota state officials and the White House.

The Obamas' Statement: "This Has to Stop"

In a rare and direct intervention, the Obamas called Pretti’s death a "heartbreaking tragedy" that serves as a "wake-up call to every American."

"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," the statement read. The former first couple accused the current administration of offering public explanations for the shooting that "appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence."

They further urged Americans to support the peaceful protests, calling them a "timely reminder that ultimately it's up to each of us as citizens to speak out against injustice."

The Incident: Video vs. Official Accounts

The shooting occurred Saturday morning at the intersection of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue. Pretti was reportedly participating in a protest against an ongoing federal immigration crackdown when he was confronted by Border Patrol agents.

• The DHS Narrative: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino claim Pretti "approached" agents with a 9mm handgun and was shot in self-defense.

• Video Evidence: Multiple bystander videos verified by major news outlets appear to show Pretti holding only a cellphone in his right hand. The footage shows agents wrestling Pretti to the ground and pepper-spraying him before firing approximately ten shots. Video analysis suggests an agent removed a gun from Pretti's person after he was pinned, moments before the fatal shots were fired.

Legal and Political Fallout

The shooting has triggered a series of immediate legal and legislative actions:

• Restraining Order: A U.S. District Court judge granted a temporary restraining order against the DHS, barring the department from altering or destroying evidence.

• State vs. Federal Standoff: Governor Tim Walz called the DHS account "nonsense" and "lies," urging President Trump to pull federal agents out of Minneapolis "before they kill another American in the street."

• Budget Shutdown Looming: Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Democrats will not vote for any spending package that includes DHS funding, significantly increasing the risk of a government shutdown on January 30.

• GOP Unease: Some Republicans, including Senators Bill Cassidy and Thom Tillis, have broken rank to call for a "full, impartial investigation," noting that the credibility of federal law enforcement is at stake.

Who Was Alex Pretti?

Colleagues at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System described Pretti as a "gentle soul" and a dedicated nurse who cared deeply for veterans. A licensed gun owner with no criminal record beyond traffic tickets, Pretti had recently become active in protests following the death of Renee Good, another Minneapolis resident killed by federal agents earlier this month.

"Alex wanted to make a difference," his family said in a statement. "The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible."

Status: Ongoing protests reported in New York City, San Francisco, and Providence. Federal agents in Minneapolis continue to use tear gas and flashbangs to disperse crowds near the site of the shooting.