Kristi Noem Tussles With Peter Doocy Over Shooting in MN
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem forcefully defended federal law enforcement actions during a tense exchange with Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy, pushing back against media skepticism surrounding the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during a Border Patrol operation in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Speaking from FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center, Noem addressed multiple national crises during her appearance on “The Sunday Briefing,” including a massive winter storm and the growing unrest tied to the Minneapolis shooting. The secretary made clear that the incident unfolded amid escalating resistance to federal immigration enforcement, which she suggested has been politically enabled by Democratic leadership at the state level.
According to Noem, Pretti deliberately interfered with a lawful federal operation and posed a lethal threat to officers on the scene. She stated that Border Patrol agents responded with defensive force after determining their lives—and the lives of others—were in danger.
The exchange grew increasingly pointed as Doocy pressed Noem about video footage circulating online and statements from Pretti’s family. Noem repeatedly emphasized that federal officers acted within established protocols and that the incident is now subject to a full investigation.
Below is the full transcript of the exchange:
NOEM: “And then when the fraud was uncovered as well, we saw a resistance in Minneapolis like we haven’t seen anywhere else in this country. In fact, encouraged by the governor at press conferences to go out and take to the streets and to resist law enforcement. It really is irresponsibility that we haven’t seen out of someone in any other state.”
DOOCY: “So, Insurrection Act, on the table?”
NOEM: “It’s up to the president. He has the constitutional right to do that. He certainly has considered it. We’ve had discussions. We’ll see what the best choice is to make sure that law and order is followed, but also that we’re keeping people safe.”
DOOCY: “And it is early, we know, in this investigation into the shooting death of Alex Pretti, but I want to have you walk our audience through what you know. So, you said last night, ‘It looks like a situation where an individual arrived on the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement.’ Did he say, ‘I’m going to kill you,’ or did he leave a note? How do you know that was his intent?”
NOEM: “You know, part of this investigation, we’ll be hearing from those agents and officers and people on the ground. But we do know that he came to that scene and impeded a law enforcement operation, which is against federal law. It’s a felony. When he did that interacting with those agents when they tried to get him to disengage, he became aggressive and resisted them throughout that process. These officers used their training, followed their protocols and were in fear of their lives and the people around them. And that’s how this tragedy unfolded, and we hope we never see it again. It grieves me to think about what his family is going through, but it also grieves me what’s happening to these law enforcement officers every day out on streets with the violence that they face.”
DOOCY: “Because you mentioned the family, they have of a statement out now where they say they’re angry and that Alex was just trying to protect a woman who was pushed down by ICE and pepper-sprayed. But they also talked to the Associated Press and they said, ‘We had this discussion with him two weeks ago or so. You know, go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid, basically.’ So what is your message this morning to Alex Pretti’s parents?”
NOEM: “Just that I’m grieved for them. I truly am. I can’t even imagine losing a child. And I can’t imagine a tragic situation — we can’t have individuals that are impeding law enforcement operations and then showing up with guns and weapons and no I.D. and confronting law enforcement like that. It is one of the reasons that we see situations like this unfold. I think we — everybody can learn from this situation. I’m grateful for law enforcement that put their lives on the line every day to go out there on the streets and try to bring criminals to justice and protect the public, and we’ll continue to make sure the right thing is done, this investigation is completed, and that we continue to go forward and we enforce the law and apply it equally to everybody in the country.”
DOOCY: “What is the line? Where does it go from peaceful protest, ‘I have a first amount right to do that,’ to ‘I’m going to get arrested protesting.’ to ‘I’m going to get shot to death?’”
NOEM: “We have clearly, from the very beginning, followed the exact same process and protocols that have been implemented this entire administration and that the previous administration followed and has gone on in law enforcement interactions for years. It is — you cannot impede a law enforcement investigation and operation. When an officer tells you to back off and gives you orders, you should comply and explain. You shouldn’t show up with weapons that — no I.D. and no indication of how they’re going to be used. That aggressive interaction, laying hands on law enforcement officers clearly is a crime and it is something that should not be acceptable.”
DOOCY: “Because you mentioned the protocol, there is an angle of video that we’ve been playing all morning where it shows an officer removing a weapon either from Alex Pretti’s waistband or a holster, and he walks away with the weapon before officers start shooting. It appears that Alex Pretti was disarmed. If he was disarmed, is it the protocol to use deadly force?”
NOEM: “And that’s all part of this investigation. Every video will be analyzed. Everything will be looked at. And that’s part of the answer is that I can’t speak to every single thing that those officers thought. But this happened in seconds. They clearly feared for their lives and took action to defend themselves and the people around them. If you watch that and you listen to those videos, you can hear someone yelling ‘Gun, gun, gun,’ and those agents and officers reacted to that. So, as this investigation goes forward, all of that will be analyzed.”