Washington, Jan 27: The White House on Monday said US President Donald Trump did not describe Alex Pretti as a “domestic terrorist,” as controversy intensified over recent immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that she had not heard the president use such language, stressing that Trump wants facts to emerge through an ongoing investigation. Her remarks followed statements by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who had earlier characterised Pretti in those terms after he was fatally shot during an encounter with federal agents.
Leavitt declined to comment on whether any apology would be issued, reiterating that the matter remains under investigation. She said the administration does not want Americans to lose their lives and emphasised that the White House is closely monitoring developments.
Amid growing fallout, Trump said he spoke with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz about the unrest in Minneapolis that followed the killing. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the two leaders agreed to work together and appeared aligned on addressing the situation. He added that senior border official Tom Homan would be sent to Minnesota to coordinate with state authorities.
Trump also pointed to what he described as improvements in law and order in several US cities, including Minnesota, while acknowledging that further efforts were needed to reduce crime.
Federal officials have so far declined to release detailed evidence supporting claims that the shooting occurred in self defence. Courts have since stepped in, with judges hearing arguments on whether to temporarily halt immigration enforcement actions in the state. A separate federal hearing is scheduled after a restraining order barred agencies from altering or destroying evidence linked to Pretti’s death.
The incident has sparked protests in Minneapolis, along with renewed criticism over the use of heavily armed federal agents during immigration operations. Legal challenges have also been filed questioning whether such deployments infringe on state authority, while Congressional Democrats have warned they could withhold funding unless reforms are introduced.