Trump considers reducing number of ICE agents in Minnesota after 'productive call' as White House brands Alex Pretti killing a 'tragedy'
Donald Trump has agreed to “reduce the number of federal agents” in Minnesota after a “productive call” with the State’s Governor Tim Walz.
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The call came as tensions reach boiling point in Minnesota following the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by ICE agents on Saturday.
Taking to TruthSocial on Monday, the US President described the call as “very good” and said the pair “seemed to be on a similar wavelength.”
Mr Trump informed Governor Walz that his border chief, Tom Homan, would be coming to the state in order to quell the chaos as the pair laid out a plan to reduce tensions.
“He was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I,” The president added.
In a statement, Walz’s office described the call as “productive” and suggested the President has agreed to reduce the number of ICE agents in Minnesota.
"The President also agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals,” the statement read.
Speaking from the White House on Monday evening, Mr Trump’s press secretary said “nobody wants to see Americans dying in the streets.”
Despite this, Karoline Leavitt branded the reaction to Alex Pretti’s death as “selective outrage by the left-wing media.”
Leavitt went on to blame "elected Democrats", like Tim Walz, for the killing, which saw six ICE agents beat Pretti to the ground, take his legally-owned pistol and shoot him ten times.
Earlier on Monday, Mr Trump confirmed Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, would have a reduced role in the running of ICE following the murder.
He confirmed that Border Czar Tom Homan would be sent to Minnesota tonight to manage ICE operations.
In a TruthSocial post, Donald Trump said: "He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there.
"Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me."
In a tweet, Ms Noem replied to Trump's post saying: "This is good news for peace, safety, and accountability in Minneapolis.
"I have worked closely with Tom over the last year and he has been a major asset to our team— his experience and insight will help us in our wide-scale fraud investigations, which have robbed Americans, and will help us to remove even more public safety threats and violent criminal illegal aliens off the of streets of Minneapolis.
"We continue to call on the leadership in Minnesota to allow for state and local partnership in our public safety mission. Thank you Mr. President."
Ms Leavitt added: "Tom Homan will be managing ICE Operations on the ground in Minnesota to continue arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.
"In addition, Tom will coordinate with those leading investigations into the massive, widespread fraud that has resulted in billions of taxpayer dollars being stolen from law-abiding citizens in Minnesota."
Releasing a short statement on Sunday, the White House described the ICE agents as "heroes" who are "removing dangerous criminal illegals off our streets to protect American families."
The statement added: "Meanwhile, Minnesota’s local leadership repeatedly chooses politics over the safety of law-abiding Americans."
Trump said: "The Mayor and Governor are inciting insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric...LET OUR ICE PATRIOTS DO THEIR JOB!
"12,000 Illegal Alien Criminals, many of them violent, have been arrested and taken out of Minnesota.
"If they were still there, you would see something far worse than you are witnessing today!"
In Minneapolis, protesters converged at the scene of the shooting in Minneapolis despite dangerously cold weather.
By the afternoon, the worst of an extreme cold wave was over, but the temperature was still minus 6C.
As dark fell, hundreds of people mourned quietly by a growing memorial at the site of the shooting. Some carried signs saying: "Justice for Alex Pretti."