Trump Signals Pullback in Minnesota Crackdown

President Donald Trump suggested federal law enforcement could ease its posture in Minnesota after two fatal shootings in Minneapolis, telling ABC News that agents may adopt a “more relaxed” approach while continuing their work.

In an interview with ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott, Trump said the federal presence in Minnesota would remain but hinted at a shift in tone following weeks of backlash.

The president has tapped White House “border czar” Tom Homan to oversee the Minnesota operation after intense criticism from state officials, local leaders and national civil rights groups over violent encounters involving federal agents.

When asked what would change with Homan in charge, Trump said, “we can start doing maybe a little bit more relaxed” and added, “we’d like to finish the job and finish it well, and I think we can do it in a de-escalated form.”

Those comments mark a notable contrast from Trump’s stance just months ago, when he argued that Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids “haven’t gone far enough.” Trump and senior administration officials had also sharply criticized both protesters who were killed in the recent incidents with the White House describing one as a “‘would-be assassin” while simultaneously offering condolences to their families.

The shootings occurred during Operation Metro Surge, a federal initiative that has brought thousands of agents into Minneapolis, in part to detain undocumented immigrants. The operation has drawn condemnation from Minnesota’s governor and the city’s mayor, who say it has inflamed tensions rather than improved safety.

“Minnesota is a state that believes in the rule of law and in the dignity of all people,” Gov. Tim Walz wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed this week. “We know that true public safety comes from trust, respect and shared purpose, not from intimidation or political theater.”

As state officials seek to temporarily halt the operation, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Monday to explain the rationale behind ICE’s enforcement actions in Minnesota. The judge directed the government to submit a supplemental legal brief by Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET.

Despite repeatedly attacking Walz’s leadership in public, Trump said his recent discussions with the governor were “very well,” and praised Homan as “a great guy. He’s a different type. He’s a strong guy, but he gets along with people.”

Walz confirmed Monday that he spoke with Trump by phone and described the conversation as “productive.” The governor said he urged the president to support impartial investigations into the Minneapolis shootings and to scale back the federal presence. According to Walz, Trump “agreed to look into” reducing the number of agents in the state.

Pressed on what de-escalation would actually entail, Trump said he wanted Minnesotans to recognize “the fact that we’ve taken thousands of criminals out, and because of that, their crime rate has gone down, which is a great thing.”

“A lot of the hardest work is already done,” Trump continued. “You know, we’ve taken out thousands of stone-cold criminals, including murderers. And I think that’s what the people of Minnesota want. That’s what the people of the country want. That’s why I got elected.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, has consistently called for federal agents to withdraw from the city.

“Minneapolis will continue to cooperate with state and federal law enforcement on real criminal investigations, but we will not participate in unconstitutional arrests of our neighbors or enforce federal immigration law,” Frey said Monday after speaking with Trump.

Homan met separately on Tuesday with both Walz and Frey. The mayor said he told Homan about “the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers.”

Asked when federal agents might depart Minnesota, Trump said, “I don’t know about soon but at some point, when we have all the criminals out, they’re going to leave. It’s a positive thing, not a negative thing.”

Referring to what he called “very bad and dangerous people” in the state, Trump added, “We know where a lot of them are. And what we’re asking the governor to do is hand over the criminals that they have. It’ll make the job much easier and faster.”

Trump also suggested similar federal efforts could expand elsewhere. “There will be a time coming in the not too distant future, then we go on to something else,” he said, pointing to what he described as successes in Memphis, Chicago, Louisiana and Washington, D.C.

“We always continue,” Trump said. “I don’t think you can just go cold turkey and go out. I think there’s a continuation.”

“We have a lot of cities and areas that want us very badly,” he added. “So we’re going to be choosing some new ones. We have a very — we have an unlimited appetite for fixing crime in cities. They seem to be all Democrat-run.”

Trump’s emphasis on what he calls a “migrant crime epidemic” has largely targeted Democratic-led cities, though local and state officials have rejected his claim that federal agents or National Guard deployments are necessary to address crime.

The president brushed aside criticism related to Saturday’s fatal shooting of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti, which sparked protests nationwide and renewed calls for an independent investigation. Pretti was carrying a pistol in a waist-level holster, was disarmed by federal agents and then shot multiple times.

Several gun-rights organizations, including the National Rifle Association, criticized statements by officials – including Trump – following the shooting. After the second deadly incident in Minnesota, Trump called it an “unfortunate incident” but added, “You can’t have guns. You can’t walk in with guns.” The NRA responded that it “unequivocally believes that all law-abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be.”

Minnesota officials confirmed Pretti had a valid permit to carry a concealed firearm, and available video footage has not shown him drawing or reaching for his weapon during the encounter.

Asked about criticism from gun-rights advocates, Trump said, “Well, I haven’t seen the statements but I think when you have a fully loaded gun and two magazines, that’s not great.”

Gun Owners of America pushed back, saying, “Peaceful protests while armed isn’t radical, it’s American. The First and Second Amendments protect those rights, and they always have.”

Trump also defended Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who faces mounting calls to resign after multiple violent incidents involving DHS personnel. “I think she’s done a fantastic job, she’s strong,” Trump said.

Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska became the first Republicans on Tuesday to publicly call for Noem’s removal.

Trump responded by labeling both senators “losers.”

“They’re terrible senators. One is gone and the other should be gone,” Trump said. “What Murkowski says she’s always against the Republicans anyway. And Tillis decided to drop out. So you know, he lost his voice once he did that.”

One of Trump’s most outspoken critics in Minnesota, Rep. Ilhan Omar, has repeatedly been targeted by the president since she began representing a Minneapolis district in 2019.

During a Tuesday town hall in Minneapolis, a man rushed the stage as Omar spoke, appeared to spray a liquid in her direction and was subdued by security after a brief struggle.

Police identified the suspect as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak, who was arrested and booked into Hennepin County Jail on suspicion of third-degree assault.

Commenting on the incident, Trump told ABC News’ Scott, “I don’t think about her. I think she’s a fraud. I really don’t think about that.”

Without offering evidence, Trump went on to allege Omar staged the attack, saying, “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”

When asked whether he had watched the video of the incident, Trump replied, “I haven’t seen it. No, no. I hope I don’t have to bother.”