Kristi Noem Refuses To Answer Whether ICE Disarmed Alex Pretti Before Fatally Shooting Him

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Huff Post

Jan 25, 2026, 05:40 PM EST | Updated 9 hours ago


After a reporter questioned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday about the gun the Trump administration claimed Alex Pretti “approached” ICE agents with in order to harm them, Noem skirted around giving a direct answer. While DHS has argued that Pretti was an armed man provoking violence, videos of the incident and sworn affidavits contradict DHS statements that the shots fired by Border Patrol agents were done so “defensively.”

In the clips that have been circulating online, none of the footage appears to show Pretti with a weapon — only a phone in his hand. Pretti, who was licensed to carry a concealed weapon, was shot several times by ICE agents Saturday after they discovered he was carrying a 9mm semiautomatic handgun, according to The Associated Press.

“Did the 37-year-old, who had a license to carry, did he brandish a gun?” the reporter asked Noem during a press conference on Saturday. “And at what point did law enforcement retrieve the gun? And also the magazines from him?” Avoiding answering directly, Noem replied, “This individual showed up to impede a law enforcement operation and assaulted our officers. They responded according to their training and took action to defend the officer’s life and those of the public around him.”

Telling the reporter that she doesn’t know of “any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign,” she added, “This is a violent riot when you have someone showing up with weapons and are using them to assault law enforcement officers.” The reporter didn’t back down, pressing Noem for further clarification. “Video appears to show he’s disarmed before shots are fired, so I just want clarity on that,” she told Noem before also questioning why federal agents told the Minneapolis Police Department to leave the scene after the incident.

Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kristi-noem-alex-pretti-gun-protest_n_697649c9e4b031f3fa68b0fa?origin=home-latest-news-unit

[progree]

1. Border Patrol Bovino changes story from "brandishing" weapon, to, I will not speculate until investigation is complete

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/lead-border-patrol-official-tells-people-to-stop-speculating-on-alex-pretti-shooting/vi-AA1UWZAw

Lead Border Patrol official tells people to stop speculating on Alex Pretti shooting
Greg Bovino is telling people to stop speculating on what happened during Saturday's shooting. Marielle Mohs shows how Border Patrol's messaging has changed in the last 24 hours

(Previously he said Pretti approached border patrol agents with a 9mm semiautomatic ... intent on doing maximum damage -- start at 0:49).

Now he's saying he's waiting for the investigation to be completed and he will not speculate on what happened and doesn't want us to speculate either

======================================

All this after a particularly bruising interview with CNN's Dana Bash

'That's not illegal': Bash grills top border official about video showing Pretti recording, not trying to impede officers

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/that-s-not-illegal-bash-grills-top-border-official-about-video-showing-pretti-recording-not-trying-to-impede-officers/vi-AA1UWr9i

==================================
"Brandishing"

“This individual went and impeded their law enforcement operations, attacked those officers, had a weapon on him and multiple dozens of rounds of ammunition, wishing to inflict harm on these officers, coming, brandishing like that,” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Saturday.

-snip-

When CNN’s Dana Bash asked Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino Sunday if officials have evidence to support their claim Pretti was “brandishing” his weapon, Bovino said Pretti’s firearm, at some point, became visible to officers.

”He brought a semi-automatic weapon to a riot, assaulted federal officers, and at some point, they saw that weapon,” Bovino said. “So, I do believe (Noem) is 100% spot-on in what she said.”

https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/25/us/shooting-alex-pretti-gun-minneapolis

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Their manufacturing of alternate realities in order to create a "narrative" and "talking points"

never ends.

[Walleye]

3. Brandishing is a specific crime. These "agents" saw that weapon and decided they could get away with killing this guy.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. She is going to get impeached because her lies won't stand up to scrutiny.

[MLWR]

5. Kristi Noem Refuses To Answer Whether ICE Disarmed Alex Pretti Before Fatally Shooting Him

It doesn't much matter: Krusty Gnome lies as often as she inhales anyway. Asking her anything is not going to get to the truth.