U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that Alex Pretti, the man fatally shot by a federal agent during a confrontation in Minneapolis, should not have been carrying a weapon, distancing himself from the positions of some gun rights groups and certain Republicans.
When asked whether he agreed with administration officials who described Pretti as a domestic terrorist, Trump said: “I haven’t heard that, but certainly he should not have been carrying a gun.”
Speaking to reporters at a restaurant in Iowa, Trump added: “He had a gun. I don’t like that. He had two fully loaded magazines. That’s a bad thing. And despite that, I would say this is… very unfortunate.”
Pretti, a licensed concealed-carry holder, was killed on Saturday during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. The incident has drawn widespread criticism and prompted leadership changes ordered by the White House.
Gun rights groups, including the NRA and Gun Owners of America, reacted by emphasizing that Pretti was legally carrying the weapon, and that footage from the scene shows he did not brandish it before being shot.
Trump’s statements have sparked divisions within the Republican camp, just months ahead of the November midterm elections.
