Fact Check: Trump Did Not Post That “Only Criminals Carry Guns” After Minnesota Shooting

A viral image circulating on social media falsely attributes inflammatory comments about gun ownership to former President Donald Trump, analysis shows. The fabricated Truth Social post, which gained traction following a January 2026 shooting incident in Minnesota, has been debunked after careful examination of Trump’s actual social media activity.

The doctored screenshot, which began spreading on January 25, 2026, shows what appears to be a Truth Social post from Trump’s official account declaring: “HE HAD A GUN, ONLY CRIMINALS CARRY GUNS ON OUR STREETS, WE NEED LAW AND ORDER. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

One prominent share of the image on X (formerly Twitter) directly challenged Trump supporters by commenting: “Hey MAGA, Your president Donald Trump believes if you have a gun you’re a criminal. Wonder what the @nra thinks about this.”

Comprehensive verification efforts, however, confirm the post never existed. A thorough search of Trump’s Truth Social account (@realDonaldTrump) reveals no instances of the phrase “ONLY CRIMINALS CARRY GUNS” or any similar wording. Google searches specifically targeting Trump’s Truth Social page for this phrase likewise returned no results, further confirming the fabricated nature of the image.

Digital forensic indicators also point to manipulation. All circulating versions of the supposed post display identical engagement metrics – the same number of likes, shares, and comments – which would be highly unusual for an authentic post viewed and captured by different users at different times. Legitimate screenshots would typically show varying counts as engagement increases over time.

While Trump did address the January 24 shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minnesota, his authentic statement differed significantly from the fabricated version. Trump’s actual post did mention both guns and criminals but made no claim that “only criminals carry guns on our streets” – a statement that would have represented a dramatic departure from his well-documented pro-Second Amendment stance.

The fabricated post also included the phrase “Thank you for your attention to this matter,” a signature line that has become a common element in parody or fake Trump posts, serving as a red flag for detecting inauthentic content.

This incident highlights the increasing sophistication of digital misinformation surrounding political figures. Fabricated social media posts can spread rapidly, particularly when they appear to show a public figure contradicting their established positions on controversial issues like gun ownership.

The false image appears designed to drive a wedge between Trump and Second Amendment supporters, a key constituency within his political base. By suggesting Trump had adopted an anti-gun stance, the fabricated content attempted to create tension between the former president and organizations like the National Rifle Association, which has historically supported him.

Social media platforms continue to struggle with the proliferation of such manipulated content, which can sometimes spread faster than fact-checks or corrections. The incident underscores the importance of verification when encountering inflammatory or surprising statements from public figures, particularly when they appear to contradict long-held positions.

As the 2026 political landscape continues to evolve, experts warn that detecting sophisticated digital manipulation will require increased vigilance from both platforms and users, particularly around highly charged topics like gun control and public safety.