On Saturday, immigration agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a local ICU nurse who worked with veterans. Pretti was attending a protest tied to Trump’s immigration crackdown when the shooting happened.
The killing came just weeks after another fatal encounter. Renee Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent during a separate operation in the city. Two Americans. Two deaths. Both are tied to federal immigration enforcement.
The back-to-back shootings turned Minneapolis into a flashpoint. Protests grew, and trust between residents and federal officers continued to collapse.
It was against this backdrop that Vice President JD Vance stepped in.
On Sunday, Vance posted on X about two ICE agents who were eating at a restaurant when protesters gathered outside. He claimed the officers were trapped inside until backup arrived. Vance said the agents told him about the incident when he visited Minneapolis last week.
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He then linked the restaurant incident to the deadly shootings.
“This is just a taste of what’s happening in Minneapolis because state and local officials refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement,” Vance wrote. “They have created the chaos so they can have moments like yesterday, where someone tragically dies, and politicians get to grandstand about the evils of enforcing the border.”
When I was in Minneapolis, I heard a number of crazy stories. But near the top of the list:
A couple of off duty ICE and CBP officers were going to dinner in Minneapolis. They were doxed and their location revealed, and the restaurant was then mobbed. The officers were locked in…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 25, 2026
The post landed hard.
Many readers saw it as brushing aside the deaths of civilians while shifting blame onto local leaders. Online fury spread fast.
Your “solution” is to tell Americans obey the invasion of our communities by masked government agents as they abduct people and execute Americans in the street or else we will also get executed. That’s not a solution. It’s a violation of our rights. You are a tyrant. https://t.co/uJejkwh6KM
— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) January 25, 2026
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez also responded, pointing directly to the human cost.
“You are defending the open killing of everyday Americans for exercising their Constitutional rights,” she wrote. “First, the mother of a 6 year old child. Now, an ICU nurse to veterans. Both shot at nearly point blank range. All without reflection or remorse. People will not forget this.”
You are defending the open killing of everyday Americans for exercising their Constitutional rights.
First, the mother of a 6 year old child. Now, an ICU nurse to veterans. Both shot at nearly point blank range.
All without reflection or remorse. People will not forget this. https://t.co/XLefQqQNFk
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 25, 2026
Former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau focused on the tone of Vance’s message.
“Do you hear yourself??” he posted. “Your federal agents shot a man ten times and you’re complaining about their f—— lunch being interrupted?? What the f— is wrong with you??”
Do you hear yourself??
Your federal agents shot a man ten times and you’re complaining about their fucking lunch being interrupted??
What the fuck is wrong with you?? https://t.co/8sZMnLYfsy
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) January 25, 2026
You’re supposed to be the VP for ALL Americans. Not just the Republicans.
You are a disgrace.
— Smoke & Stack 🇺🇸🦅 (@TedExpo) January 25, 2026
Pope Leo and Pope Francis were both right about you.
Your entire public service has been a mockery of our faith.
Repent and resign. https://t.co/bu0fBjeMsI
— Christopher Hale (@chrisjollyhale) January 25, 2026
Local authorities did not create any chaos, ICE did. Minneapolis was fine until your Nazis showed up.
— rokcy (@rokcyluvsemily) January 25, 2026
Resign, I speak for everyone.
— JR (@PurelyJR) January 25, 2026
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
