Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz tells Trump: "You clearly underestimated the people of this state and nation"

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

Updated on: January 25, 2026 / 5:50 PM CST


Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz spoke to the press Sunday afternoon, one day after 37-year-old Alex Pretti was killed by federal agents in south Minneapolis — the third shooting this month amid Operation Metro Surge, and the second fatality carried out by federal immigration enforcement forces.

"What's the plan, Donald Trump? What is the plan?" Walz said. "What do we need to do to get these federal agents out of our state? If fear, violence and chaos is what you wanted from us, then you clearly underestimated the people of this state and nation. We are tired, but we're resolved. We're peaceful, but we'll never forget. We're angry, but we won't give up hope. And above all else, we are clearly unified."

Walz said if President Trump's intention was to "make an example of Minnesota," it backfired.

"We believe in law and order in this state. We believe in peace, and we believe that Donald Trump needs to pull these 3,000 untrained agents out of Minnesota before they kill another person, and we're up here telling another story of a Minnesotan just trying to live their life without the interference," Walz said. "To Americans who are watching this right now, and I don't know, maybe you're watching it with curiosity, bewilderment, horror, scorn or sympathy. I've got a question for all of you. What side do you wanna be on?"

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/tim-walz-donald-trump-immigration-surge-ice-border-patrol-alex-pretti/

[Hokie]

1. Where is the National Guard?

Anything else is bluster. The National Guard should be escorting ICE to the border. Talk is cheap.

[Mister Ed]

2. Talk is indeed cheap.

And talk of the Minnesota National Guard forcibly "escorting" 3,000 ICE agents out of the state is just that, talk. It's easy to do, especially on the internet.

The Guard is not going to get into a shooting war with ICE, much as Trump, Miller, Noem and Bovino might love to see that.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. "Where is the National Guard?"

Here - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143605289

[33taw]

19. They are in downtown Minneapolis supporting local police and have established a

perimeter around the federal building to protect protesters from ICE and Border Patrol.

[mysteryowl]

3. It's the tag line from Galaxy Quest

"Never give up. Never surrender."

I'm making a protest sign that says this.

[chernabogg]

4. Tim can and should be doing so much more.

I’m very disappointed in him and his leadership.

[Klondike Kat]

5. Some examples, if you please

Seriously, I'd like to know what else he could be doing that wouldn't make things worse.

[chernabogg]

14. Well first, things are already worse.

He needs to immediately stop addressing anything to Donald Trump. I would suggest he send in the Guard to the Home 2 Suites in downtown Minneapolis and arrest (or more) every agent sleeping there. The Fourth Reich is here and it’s not going away unless we stop it. There is no constitution or laws for them anymore. People need to realize that.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

6. What do you believe Governor Walz should be doing?

Do you have specific suggestions? What powers does he have that you think would be effective in this situation? Since this situation is likely to be repeated in multiple Blue States, an effective response is necessary. I would prefer to see him call up the Guard, not to engage with the ICE thugs, but to act as a buffer between ICE and peaceful protestors. But that poses problems as well.

[Lonestarblue]

7. Prosecute the ICE agents who murdered Good and Pretti for a start.

The NYT has two writers suggesting just that today.

[Random Boomer]

8. Following the law takes TIME.

Waltz can't just wave a magic wand and make that happen. Evidence has to be gathered, reports have to be written. He's being blocked at every turn by the Feds, but he's still persisting. He's not caving under pressure. Not sure what more could be asked this early into it all.

[chernabogg]

15. Yeah, it seems following the law

Always takes time for us. They do not believe any laws apply to them.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. They already started the first step

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143604688

(snip)

A federal judge in Minnesota has blocked the Trump administration from "destroying or altering evidence" related to today's fatal shooting of Pretti.

The ruling comes after Minnesota state officials filed a lawsuit against Department of Homeland Security officials and others in Minnesota’s U.S. District Court seeking a temporary restraining order that would prohibit federal officials from destroying evidence.

(snip)

This along with demands for the names of all the officers involved would be a next step that is most likely underway. They will probably have to have the courts force that too.

[33taw]

20. That is a function of the Attorney General's Office and takes time to develop a case.

[Torchlight]

10. I'd be thrilled to hear the practical responses

Gov. Waltz "can and should be doing...". Otherwise, I guess I'd be very disappointed in you and the lack of reponse.

[Random Boomer]

11. Name these things he should be doing

I'd like to hear how you think a state governor should react to the Federal government's armed intrusion into the state. What are the actions you feel have not been taken?

[littlemissmartypants]

17. You seem to be on a first name basis....

Why don't you roll up to the governor's house or call his cell and tell him directly?

[GryphonShouting]

12. Leave Out The "Untrained"

I wish the governor would stop hammering on the "untrained" note. Both of the murderers were 8+ year veterans of police and border patrol. They're not untrained. Rather, they have been consistently trained that a. anyone not on their side is the enemy, and b. they can murder anyone they like with no consequences.

That asshole Chauvin (the single exception to the “no consequences” rule in recent memory) was himself a police trainer. They're not untrained, they've been carefully groomed into being the new gestapo.

[travelingthrulife]

16. Thank goodness this maladministration is so incompetent.

Taking this abuse to the smaller cities makes it much, much more real to US citizens. Seems like a foolish move to me. People come from and love those small cities. Plus, everyone knows Mpls has a low crime rate. Same with Portland, Maine

This has been happening on the west coast, especially LA, and in Chicago since March last year, but people easily chalk it up to crazy lefties or roving gangs of antifa, or whatever.

[ffr]

18. He would have made a terrific Vice President