Top White House aide Stephen Miller stated on Tuesday that officials are investigating whether the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) team in Minneapolis adhered to proper protocols prior to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti. This admission from one of the Trump administration’s staunch advocates for immigration enforcement signals a significant potential shift in the handling of the incident.
In an official statement to CNN, Miller indicated that the White House had clearly instructed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to utilize additional personnel sent to Minnesota for force protection specifically for conducting fugitive operations. He expressed that the evaluation of why the CBP team might not have followed this protocol is ongoing.
This acknowledgment marks a striking departure from previous comments on Pretti’s shooting. Initially, Miller referred to Pretti, a Veterans Affairs ICU nurse, as a “would-be assassin,” while DHS Secretary Kristi Noem labeled him as having committed an act of domestic terrorism. However, subsequent video evidence revealed that Pretti was subdued and unarmed when he was shot by law enforcement.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump publicly contradicted Miller’s earlier characterization, indicating he had not heard any talk of domestic terrorism related to the incident. Miller later explained that the initial statements from DHS were based on information provided by CBP personnel on the ground.
Hours following his official statement, Miller took to social media to defend the federal agents involved in immigration arrests, claiming they operate under extremely dangerous conditions and face relentless threats from organized groups.
On the day of the shooting, Noem was in continuous communication with White House officials, including Miller, as they navigated messaging around the incident. Reports revealed that Noem was advised by multiple officials on how to address the shooting at her press conference, including incorrect assertions that Pretti was “brandishing” a weapon. Miller’s role in these discussions was previously highlighted in media reports.
Despite the controversial fallout, sources indicate that there is no immediate risk to either Miller or Noem’s positions. Trump has expressed a reluctance to dismiss long-standing aides, particularly those like Miller, who have been with him for over a decade. During a Fox News interview, Trump announced plans to “de-escalate” tensions related to the incident and mentioned sending in border czar Tom Homan to take over operations in Minnesota.
Trump clarified that changes being implemented are not indicative of a pullback but rather adjustments to improve the situation, emphasizing that minor changes are part of effective management.
This evolving narrative reflects a potentially pivotal moment for the Trump administration as it tries to strike a balance amidst rising scrutiny and concerns from within the Republican Party regarding the incident and its handling.