Trump’s about-face in Minnesota after Pretti’s death is latest in pattern of sudden shifts

President Trump has pivoted toward a more conciliatory approach with Minnesota Democratic leaders following public backlash over the second fatal shooting of a protester by federal agents this month during the administration’s nationwide immigration crackdown.

The shift comes after Saturday’s shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal agents, which has raised serious questions about the administration’s aggressive deportation tactics and response to protesters opposing these policies. The incident has drawn criticism from both sides of the political aisle.

This pattern of retreating from maximalist positions has become increasingly familiar in Trump’s presidency. Earlier this month, he repeatedly threatened military action against Iran over the violent suppression of anti-government protests, only to later announce he was “holding off” after receiving assurances about suspended executions.

Similarly, Trump recently threatened new tariffs against European allies who resisted his calls for U.S. control of Greenland, but abruptly canceled them after claiming to have reached a “framework” agreement. The White House provided minimal details about this deal, which was announced just one day after the stock market suffered one of its worst days in months in reaction to the tariff threat.

The administration’s about-face on immigration enforcement in Minnesota represents a particularly striking reversal. Trump has dispatched border czar Tom Homan to take charge while senior Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and some agents are expected to withdraw from Minneapolis.

“Governor Walz was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I!” Trump declared on social media, adopting a markedly warmer tone toward a governor he had previously attacked in harsh personal terms. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed that some federal agents would be leaving after his conversation with the president.

This change in approach follows growing Republican concern over federal tactics in Saturday’s shooting. Some high-ranking administration officials had labeled Pretti, an ICU nurse who worked at a Veterans Affairs hospital, a domestic terrorist, even as video evidence contradicted their narrative.

Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Madel ended his campaign in protest, calling the immigration operation an “unmitigated disaster” and citing it as his reason for leaving the party. Even strong Trump allies like Texas Governor Greg Abbott suggested the White House needs to “recalibrate” its Minnesota strategy, while Vermont’s Republican Governor Phil Scott called the operations “a complete failure” or “deliberate federal intimidation.”

Just a day before Trump’s conciliatory shift, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller had accused Governor Walz of trying to “incite attacks” on ICE agents, while the White House social media team described Walz as “a truly disturbed, unstable individual” and an “unhinged lunatic.”

Miller referred to Pretti as a “would-be assassin,” and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem characterized the nurse’s actions as domestic terrorism. When questioned about these characterizations, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt avoided addressing whether the president shared these views, saying only that “nobody here at the White House, including the president of the United States, wants to see Americans hurt or killed.”

Trump’s response to these civilian deaths has been notably subdued compared to his reactions to other political violence. After conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September, Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office, calling it “a dark moment for America.” Following the shooting of two National Guard members in November, he delivered another national address, describing it as “an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror.”

In contrast, Trump has yet to speak directly to the nation about the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good, another protester killed by federal agents earlier this month in Minneapolis, primarily keeping the public informed through social media posts.

Even as Trump appeared to moderate his tone Monday, his administration continued to place blame on Minnesota’s Democratic leadership. Leavitt accused Walz and other state Democrats of encouraging “left-wing agitators to stop, record, confront and obstruct federal officers who are just trying to lawfully perform their duties,” adding, “This is precisely what unfolded in Minneapolis on Saturday morning.”