During his visit to Iowa, President Donald Trump was asked about the deadly Minneapolis shooting but brushed off the question and mocked the reporter as his supporters cheered.
Trump was in Urbandale talking to reporters about the economy and other issues when ABC News senior correspondent Rachel Scott tried to ask about the fatal shooting of 37‑year‑old Alex Pretti by a federal agent.
“You talked a lot about Minnesota. Some of your own administration officials have labeled Alex Pretti —” Scott began.
Trump jumped in, saying, “By the way, this is ABC fake news, this one. She hasn’t asked me a good question in years. I think a nice woman, but I don’t really like her too much.”
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He then touched briefly on the shooting itself, calling it a “very unfortunate incident” and saying he did not “like” that Pretti was armed.
🚨 LMAO! President Trump just SHUT DOWN a fake news reporter at his first stop in Iowa, making the room crack up
“By the way, this is ABC FAKE NEWS! This one. She hasn’t asked me a good question in YEARS! I THINK a nice woman, but I don’t like her too much! I’d say ABC is about… pic.twitter.com/57s9KHoir1
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 27, 2026
Trump also told another reporter that he has not heard that some officials labeled Pretti an “assassin,” and said he would do “whatever’s appropriate” about pulling federal officers out of Minnesota. “We’ll do whatever’s appropriate,” he said about the deployment.
Q: Do you agree with the assessment from some of your own officials that Alex Pretti is a domestic terrorist or assassin?
TRUMP: Well, I haven’t heard that, but he certainly shouldn’t have been carrying a gun. I don’t like that he had a gun. pic.twitter.com/DwlaCtyGgG
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 27, 2026
The shooting happened on January 24, when a U.S. Border Patrol agent killed Alex Pretti, a 37‑year‑old ICU nurse in Minneapolis. This came during a federal immigration operation called Operation Metro Surge, which has already caused protests across the city.
Pretti’s death was the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal officers in Minneapolis this month. Earlier, 37‑year‑old Renée Good was also killed, raising more anger and concern about how federal agents enforce the law.
Federal officials say the agents acted in self‑defense. But state and local leaders disagree. They point out that Pretti had a valid gun permit and no criminal record.
The protests have spread beyond Minneapolis, with people in other cities speaking out. Demonstrators in places like Chicago have publicly condemned the shooting and demanded more accountability from federal authorities for how immigration enforcement is being carried out.
Back in Minneapolis, people have taken to the streets every day since the shooting. They have blocked roads and loudly expressed their anger at federal agents, pressing for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol to leave the city.
Featured image via X screengrab
