Trump Comments on Guns at Protest Following Fatal Minneapolis Shooting

In a controversial statement following the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti, President Donald Trump told reporters that protesters should not be carrying firearms, stating plainly: “You can’t have guns. You can’t walk in with guns.”

The remarks came on January 27, 2026, as Trump was departing the White House for a scheduled trip to Iowa. When asked by reporters about Pretti’s death, which occurred three days earlier during protests in Minneapolis, Trump distanced himself from statements made by his own administration officials.

“No, I don’t think so,” Trump responded when asked if he agreed with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller’s characterization of Pretti as a “would-be assassin.”

The president then added: “With that being said, you know, you can’t have guns, you can’t walk in with guns, you just can’t. And you can’t — listen, you can’t walk in with guns. You can’t do that, but, uh, it’s just a very unfortunate incident.”

Later that same day, Trump reiterated his position, telling another reporter that Pretti “shouldn’t have been carrying a gun,” while describing the incident as “very unfortunate.”

“I don’t like that he had a gun. I don’t like that he had two fully loaded magazines, that’s a lot of bad stuff,” Trump stated, though he still characterized the shooting as “very unfortunate.”

The context surrounding Pretti’s death has fueled intense debate. Pretti had been participating in demonstrations following the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in early January. The Department of Homeland Security claimed federal agents shot Pretti after he approached them with a handgun.

However, this account has been disputed. Bystander videos show Pretti was holding only a phone at the time he was shot, and news analysis of the footage indicates federal agents had already secured the handgun Pretti was carrying before shooting him. According to the Associated Press, Pretti’s family confirmed he had a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun in Minnesota.

The shooting has raised serious questions about the use of force by federal agents and the rights of protesters. Civil liberties groups have pointed to this incident as part of a troubling pattern of federal response to demonstrations.

Trump’s comments have drawn scrutiny from both gun rights advocates and those concerned about civil liberties. While the president appeared to acknowledge the tragedy of the shooting, his emphasis on Pretti’s firearm possession has sparked debate about the Second Amendment rights of protesters and the administration’s stance on armed demonstrations.

The White House has not provided additional clarification on Trump’s comments, specifically regarding whom he was referring to when he said, “You can’t have guns.”

The Pretti case continues to develop, with ongoing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the shooting and growing pressure on the administration to address concerns about the use of federal agents in response to protests.