Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump accuses local leaders of inciting insurrection — President Trump posted on Truth Social accusing Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz of "inciting insurrection" for their calls to end the federal immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis. Trump stated federal agents were present to make the city safer, contradicting local leaders' assertion that agents were instilling fear and behaving violently.
• Trump administration disputes Pretti shooting narrative — Trump administration officials, including Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, disputed the video evidence and witness accounts of Alex Pretti's fatal shooting. Bovino claimed Pretti was armed and interfered with a lawful arrest, contradicting video analysis showing agents removed Pretti's gun before shooting. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti brandished a gun, which no video evidence supports. Trump accused Governor Walz and Mayor Frey of "inciting Insurrection."
• Trump blamed Democrats for federal enforcement chaos — Trump's social media account posted a statement that repeated Trump's false claim that he had won the 2024 election in a historic landslide (in reality, he won less than 50% of the vote) and blamed Democrats for the chaos caused by ICE and CBP agents in Democratic-led cities. The account demanded that every Democratic mayor and governor cooperate with the administration to "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

Supporting reports

• President Trump issues statement defending federal agents and criticizing Minnesota officials — President Trump issued a lengthy statement in response to the shooting, blaming and criticizing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of "inciting Insurrection" with their rhetoric. Trump's statement included a photo of a gun and called for federal ICE agents to "DO THEIR JOB," effectively endorsing the operation that resulted in Pretti's death despite video evidence contradicting official accounts.
• Trump accuses local leaders of inciting insurrection — President Trump posted on Truth Social accusing Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz of "inciting insurrection" for their calls to end the federal immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis. Trump stated federal agents were present to make the city safer, contradicting local leaders' assertion that agents were instilling fear and behaving violently.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge orders release of three activists arrested at anti-ICE church protest in St Paul — Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Allen, and William Kelly were arrested during an anti-ICE demonstration that disrupted Sunday church services in St Paul, Minnesota. A federal judge ordered their release on Friday, ruling the government failed to meet its burden for detention. The ruling came after the White House posted a digitally altered image of Armstrong's arrest on social media, falsifying her appearance to portray her as crying and darkening her skin, which was later exposed by news outlets.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration officials make false claims about Alex Pretti's actions on day of killing — Trump administration officials initially claimed that Alex Pretti was "brandishing" a gun and intended to "massacre" federal officers on January 24, 2026, the day he was fatally shot. Video evidence contradicted these claims, showing Pretti holding a phone, not a gun. The false statements were made in the immediate aftermath of the shooting and were later contradicted by multiple video recordings of the incident.
• Department of Homeland Security issued false statement about shooting — The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement falsely asserting that Alex Pretti "approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun" and "violently resisted" as officers attempted to disarm him. The statement claimed an agent fired "defensive shots" and characterized Pretti as someone "who wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement." Video evidence verified by the New York Times contradicted this account, showing Pretti holding a phone, not a gun, when federal agents took him to the ground and shot him.
• Kristi Noem doubled down on false narrative about Pretti — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reiterated the false characterization of Alex Pretti, stating: "This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement." This statement contradicted video evidence showing Pretti holding a phone and attempting to help another person.
• DHS issues misleading statement about Pretti's shooting — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement claiming that Alex Pretti approached Border Patrol agents with a handgun and violently resisted arrest, which contradicted video evidence showing he was holding a phone. The statement suggested that the agents acted in self-defense, despite the lack of credible evidence supporting this narrative.
• DHS issued a statement falsely characterizing Pretti as having "approached" officers with a loaded handgun and "violently resisted" disarmament. — The Department of Homeland Security released an official statement claiming Pretti "approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun" and "violently resisted" when officers attempted to disarm him. The statement suggested he carried two additional magazines and had no ID, implying premeditation for a "massacre." A community fact-check note on the DHS post corrected the record: video shows Pretti holding a phone and approaching a woman who had been shoved by an officer when an officer threw him to the ground. At no point does video show him approaching officers while holding a gun.

Supporting reports

• Stephen Miller accused Democrats of siding with terrorists — White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller responded to the Democratic Party's social media post calling for ICE to leave Minneapolis by characterizing the Democrats as siding with "terrorists" and describing Pretti as a "would-be assassin" attempting to murder federal law enforcement. Miller continued this framing in responses to Senator Chris Murphy and Senator Amy Klobuchar, labeling those opposing ICE operations as supporters of "domestic terrorists" and "insurrection."
• Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller falsely label shooting victim a "domestic terrorist" — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller publicly labeled Alex Pretti, the ICU nurse killed by Border Patrol agents, a "domestic terrorist" and spread false claims that he was holding a gun and attempting to assassinate law enforcement. The false characterization occurred hours after the fatal shooting.
• Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem characterized Pretti as having committed "domestic terrorism" and repeated false claims about his actions. — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem held a press conference repeating talking points used after the killing of Renee Good by an ICE officer. She stated Pretti "committed domestic terrorism" and claimed "this looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement." She also asserted Pretti "came to that scene and impeded a law enforcement operation which is against federal law" and "became aggressive and resisted them throughout that process." Later, when asked if deadly force was protocol after disarmament, she stated "They clearly feared for their lives" without addressing the disarmament or the six shots fired at a motionless body.
• Stephen Miller characterized Pretti as a "would-be assassin" and accused Democrats of siding with "terrorists." — Stephen Miller, a Trump administration official, posted "A would-be assassin tried to murder federal law enforcement and the official Democrat account sides with the terrorists." Miller also responded to Senator Amy Klobuchar's criticism of ICE by stating "A domestic terrorist tried to assassinate federal law enforcement and this is your response? You and the state's entire Democrat leadership team have been flaming the flames of insurrection for the singular purpose of stopping the deportation of illegals who invaded the country."
• Stephen Miller called Alex Pretti a "domestic terrorist" — Stephen Miller, the political architect of the Trump administration's mass deportation policy, called Alex Pretti a "domestic terrorist" in public statements. Pretti was a nurse without a criminal record who was fatally shot by federal agents. Miller also called Pretti an "assassin." These characterizations contradicted video evidence and were later walked back by Deputy AG Todd Blanche.
• Trump administration officials falsely characterized Alex Pretti as a domestic terrorist — Trump administration officials, including Stephen Miller and senior Department of Homeland Security officials, initially smeared Alex Pretti as a domestic terrorist who intended to massacre law enforcement. JD Vance retweeted messages containing these claims. The narrative was later contradicted by video evidence showing Pretti was lawfully armed and attempting to help an assaulted woman.
• Stephen Miller claimed Alex Pretti was a terrorist — Stephen Miller, a Trump administration official, immediately claimed that Alex Pretti, the protester killed by ICE, had been a terrorist intent on massacring ICE agents, despite video evidence showing Pretti was unarmed at the moment of shooting and had been disarmed by officers before being shot.
• Internal Trump administration conflict over responsibility for labeling murder victim as domestic terrorist — Axios reported that internal Trump administration figures are attempting to assign blame for labeling Alex Pretti as a domestic terrorist rather than treating the killing as a potential homicide. The report cites four administration sources stating that Stephen Miller dictated language to Kristi Noem characterizing Pretti as wanting to "massacre" federal agents. The conflict reflects palace intrigue over accountability for the controversial operation.

Supporting reports

• Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller falsely label shooting victim a "domestic terrorist" — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller publicly labeled Alex Pretti, the ICU nurse killed by Border Patrol agents, a "domestic terrorist" and spread false claims that he was holding a gun and attempting to assassinate law enforcement. The false characterization occurred hours after the fatal shooting.
• Kristi Noem labels Alex Pretti "domestic terrorist" without evidence — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem labeled Alex Pretti, the U.S. citizen fatally shot by CBP agents, a "domestic terrorist" without providing evidence to support the characterization. Noem had previously used similar language to describe Renee Good, an unarmed woman shot three times in her car while attempting to steer away from an agent, characterizing the shooting as an appropriate response to an "act of domestic terrorism."
• Kristi Noem defended calling Pretti a "domestic terrorist" — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem appeared on Fox News to explain her initial characterization of Alex Pretti as a "domestic terrorist" in her press conference. Noem stated the situation was "very chaotic" and that she and CBP agents "were using the best information we had at the time, seeking to be transparent." She attributed the characterization to information relayed from CBP agents on the ground.

Supporting reports

• Fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis — Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was shot and killed on Saturday, January 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. According to witness accounts, Pretti was shot after rushing to protect a woman who was being pepper-sprayed by Border Patrol agents. Video evidence shows a federal officer retrieving Pretti's firearm while another officer drew his weapon before the fatal shooting occurred.
• Federal agents shoot and kill Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during immigration enforcement operation — Federal immigration agents under the Trump administration shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis on January 24 during an enforcement operation. The killing was the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis within weeks and intensified public anger over the administration's immigration enforcement tactics and the use of lethal force.
• Federal agents shoot and kill VA nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials shot and killed Alex Pretti, a VA nurse, in Minneapolis. Trump administration officials, including Stephen Miller and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, subsequently labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist." VA Secretary Collins blamed the death on state and local officials' "refusal to cooperate with the federal government." The killing followed another shooting of a U.S. citizen, Renee Nicole Good, by an ICE official in Minneapolis earlier that month.
• Border Patrol agents fatally shoot ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — Border Patrol agents fired at least 10 shots at 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on January 24, killing him. Pretti had been recording the agents with his phone after they pepper-sprayed and tackled him to the ground. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller falsely labeled Pretti a "domestic terrorist" and claimed he was holding a gun and attempting to assassinate law enforcement. A Trump-appointed federal judge issued a late-night order directing the administration not to destroy or alter evidence in the case.
• Federal agents killed Alex Pretti, 37-year-old ICU nurse, during immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA, on a Minneapolis street during an immigration enforcement operation. Video evidence from ABC News shows Pretti recording federal agents with his phone before being pepper-sprayed, pushed into the street, and shot approximately 10 times in under five seconds. A doctor's affidavit cited by ABC describes multiple gunshot wounds including at least three in Pretti's back. An officer was heard saying "I got the gun" after the shooting. The incident occurred the morning after Minnesota's Friday economic blackout protest. Pretti's family disputes official accounts, describing them as "sickening lies."
• Federal agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minneapolis — Federal agents, identified as ICE/Border Patrol officers, tackled, pepper-sprayed, and shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, on a Minneapolis street. Video evidence shows Pretti holding a phone, not a gun, and attempting to help another person who had been pushed down by agents. After agents removed a gun from Pretti's waistband, they shot him multiple times, killing him. Federal agents then blocked state investigators, including the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, from accessing the scene despite a search warrant.
• Fatal shooting of Minneapolis nurse by federal ICE agents during immigration operation — Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse and U.S. citizen, was killed by federal agents on Saturday, January 25, 2026, while apparently filming an immigration enforcement operation. Videos verified by The Guardian contradict portions of the Department of Homeland Security's account of the incident. This marks the third shooting involving federal agents in January 2026 and prompted state and city lawyers to urge the court to halt Operation Metro Surge before additional deaths occur.
• Federal agent fatally shoots civilian Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — A 37-year-old nurse, Alex Pretti, was shot and killed by a federal Customs and Border Protection agent during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Democratic lawmakers, including Ilhan Omar, Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris, condemned the shooting as an execution and called for accountability. Republicans, led by President Trump and Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller, blamed Democratic officials for creating a lawless environment that prevented local police cooperation with federal agents.
• Federal agents fatally shoot 37-year-old US citizen Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old US citizen and Virginia nurse, at approximately 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2026, in the Eat Street area of Minneapolis. The killing occurred in front of witnesses who videotaped the incident. It is the second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis in less than three weeks, following the January 7 death of Renee Good. Federal agents subsequently deployed chemical irritants to disperse crowds and made arrests at the scene. Governor Tim Walz stated the killing contradicted calls for peace.
• Federal agents fatally shoot 37-year-old US citizen Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during immigration enforcement operation — Federal law enforcement officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, a Minneapolis nurse and US citizen with no criminal record and a valid firearm permit, during a protest against the Trump administration's immigration enforcement. Video evidence shows Pretti holding a phone and attempting to shield a woman being pepper-sprayed; federal officials falsely claimed he was armed with a 9mm handgun and posed a threat to officers. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino contradicted video evidence in their public statements. A Minnesota judge ordered preservation of evidence after state officials alleged DHS was blocking local investigation access.
• Federal agents fatally shoot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis; nationwide protests erupt — Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old registered nurse and US citizen employed at Minneapolis VA Health Care System, was shot dead by federal agents during an encounter in Minneapolis. Video evidence shows Pretti being wrestled to the ground and sprayed with chemical agents before being shot multiple times. The DHS and Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti "approached" officers with a 9mm handgun, contradicting available video footage. Large protests spread across US cities including Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco, Boston, Providence, Los Angeles, and Washington DC on the following day, with demonstrators calling for ICE abolishment and justice.
• Federal agents kill Minneapolis VA nurse Alex Pretti during ICE enforcement action — Alex Pretti, 37, a registered nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, was shot and killed by federal agents on Saturday during an immigration enforcement operation. Video evidence shows Pretti holding a phone, with an empty raised hand, appearing to defend a legal observer being pushed down by officers. Multiple agents surrounded him on the ground before firing multiple shots at close range. His family disputes the administration's account that he threatened officers with a gun. Police confirmed his only prior law enforcement contact was for traffic tickets and that he was a lawful gun owner.
• Federal agents shoot and kill Alex Pretti, a nurse, during ICE enforcement operation in Minneapolis — Alex Pretti, a healthcare worker, was fatally shot by federal agents during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis on or around January 25, 2026. The shooting occurred amid weeks of intensified federal immigration enforcement in the area. Following the killing, federal agents deployed teargas and projectiles against demonstrators and bystanders who gathered at the scene, injuring multiple people including children and community members seeking to help the injured.
• Federal immigration agents fatally shoot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — On January 25, 2026, federal immigration officers shot and killed 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during an enforcement operation. Video evidence shows agents removed Pretti's legally carried handgun before shooting him. The incident sparked immediate calls for investigation from former presidents Obama and Clinton, Democratic lawmakers, and Republican Senator Bill Cassidy. A federal judge issued an order blocking destruction of evidence. The Trump administration disputed the narrative, with officials claiming Pretti interfered with a lawful arrest, while video evidence contradicted claims he brandished a weapon.
• ICE agents shoot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis; White House falsely brands him "domestic terrorist" — Federal border patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, an intensive care nurse, in Minneapolis on January 25, 2026. White House officials immediately claimed Pretti was a "would-be assassin" and "domestic terrorist" brandishing a gun. Multiple witness videos emerged showing Pretti held only a phone when agents pushed him to the ground, and that his gun was removed seconds before he was shot in the back while restrained. Facing public and bipartisan backlash, Trump distanced himself from the narrative and shuffled immigration leadership.
• Federal agents shot and killed VA nurse Alex Pretti during immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis — Federal Border Patrol and ICE agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, a nurse without a criminal record, during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 25, 2026. Multiple videos contradicted official DHS claims that Pretti intended to conduct a "massacre" or cause "maximum damage." Internal DHS sources told Fox reporter Bill Melugin that the shooting was likely a "bad shoot" involving an accidental discharge after agents heard "gun," and that DHS messaging about the incident was catastrophic for morale and credibility. The incident triggered congressional scrutiny, a government funding crisis, and a political backlash against the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign.
• Federal agents killed Alex Pretti, an ICE nurse, during Minneapolis street encounter — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, an ICE nurse at Minneapolis VA, on a Minneapolis street during a period of civil unrest. Video evidence shows Pretti standing with phone raised, recording, when officers pepper-sprayed and pulled him into the street. A doctor's affidavit describes at least three gunshot wounds in his back, with multiple shots fired in under five seconds. His family disputes the official account. The incident occurred one day after a statewide economic blackout and clergy-led protest involving an estimated 50,000 people.
• Border Patrol shoots and kills Alex Pretti, ICU nurse, during Minnesota immigration enforcement operation — US Border Patrol officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, during an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota on January 25, 2026. Video evidence showed Pretti was unarmed at the moment of the shooting, contradicting federal claims that he posed a direct threat. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino claimed Pretti had threatened a "massacre" before being disarmed, but state investigators were blocked from the scene. The incident sparked public outcry and calls for investigation into federal enforcement tactics.
• Federal agents shoot and kill Alex Pretti during Minneapolis protest — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, a registered nurse at Minneapolis VA Health Care System, during a protest in south Minneapolis on Saturday. Video evidence shows Pretti being tackled by multiple agents after appearing to defend a shoved observer; an agent sprayed him with chemical agent before officers fired multiple shots at close range. DHS characterized the shooting as "defensive" and described protesters as "rioters." Pretti had no prior law enforcement contact except traffic tickets and was a lawful gun permit holder.
• Federal agents killed Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, in Minneapolis — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a VA hospital ICU nurse, in Minneapolis on Saturday morning. Pretti had stopped his car to observe agents chasing a family on foot, shouted, and blew a whistle. About a week prior, five agents had tackled him, breaking a rib, after he intervened in a similar incident. The killing triggered widespread public outcry and shifted the political calculus around federal funding bills in Congress.
• Federal agents killed VA ICE nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — Federal immigration enforcement agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a VA hospital ICE nurse, in Minneapolis on January 25, 2026. Pretti was carrying a legally permitted firearm while participating in community-led first-responder activities. Administration officials, including Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and FBI director Kash Patel, claimed the killing was justified and that Pretti posed a threat. However, the Minnesota Department of Corrections launched a website to counter DHS claims, stating that Bovino had misrepresented the target of the operation and that the individual identified had no significant criminal history in Minnesota.
• Minneapolis Police Chief criticized federal enforcement operations — Federal agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, in Minneapolis while he was directing traffic and attempting to assist another individual. Video evidence shows agents using pepper spray on Pretti before tackling him to the ground and shooting him multiple times. Following the incident, federal agents blocked state investigators from accessing the scene, prompting Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to file a lawsuit for a temporary restraining order to prevent the destruction of evidence. A judge granted the order, barring the alteration or destruction of evidence related to the shooting.
• Minnesota National Guard distributed supplies to anti-ICE protesters — Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara told CBS's Face the Nation that the city had experienced three federal shootings in less than three weeks, contrasting this with the Minneapolis Police Department's recovery of 900 guns and arrest of hundreds of violent offenders in the previous year without shooting anyone. O'Hara stated that the federal operations are unsustainable and are straining the city's police department, which has only 600 officers.
• Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, in Minneapolis during an immigration enforcement operation. — The Minnesota National Guard, wearing neon vests to distinguish themselves from federal agents, distributed doughnuts, coffee, and hot chocolate to anti-ICE protesters, signaling their alignment with community opposition to federal immigration enforcement operations.
• ICE and Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — On January 25, 2026, Border Patrol agents fatally shot Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, an intensive care nurse at a VA hospital in Minneapolis. Video evidence shows Pretti was filming police with his phone when agents initiated contact. He was not holding or brandishing his firearm; agents disarmed him while he was on the ground. After disarmament, agents fired 10 shots total—4 initially (3 to the back) and 6 additional shots while Pretti lay motionless. Pretti was a U.S. citizen born in Illinois with no criminal record, a valid concealed carry permit, and had participated in protests against ICE operations. A nearby physician found agents counting bullet wounds rather than performing CPR. The incident occurred during a broader ICE surge in Minneapolis that has generated widespread controversy and calls for investigation.
• Federal officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen, during ICE Minneapolis operation — Federal ICE and Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, an ICU nurse, in Minneapolis over the weekend. Initial regime narratives claimed Pretti was a domestic terrorist who approached agents with a firearm and reacted violently. Video evidence contradicted this account, showing Pretti was legally carrying a permitted firearm, not brandishing it, and was attempting to render aid to a woman pepper-sprayed by federal agents. After agents removed his gun and beat him, he was shot at point-blank range with at least 10 shots while helpless on the ground.
• ICE agent fatally shoots Alex Pretti in Minneapolis — On Saturday morning in Minneapolis, federal ICE officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, during a large-scale immigration enforcement crackdown. Video evidence showed Pretti was holding a phone, not a weapon, while attempting to assist another person who had been pepper-sprayed. Officers pushed him to the ground, beat him, and shot him multiple times at close range. Pretti was licensed to carry a firearm but there is no indication he was holding or threatening officers with one. The incident represents one of several violent and fatal incidents during the ICE Minneapolis operation.
• DHS report on Alex Pretti shooting released; two CBP agents discharged firearms — On January 26, 2026, Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, was killed by federal officers during the "Operation Metro Surge" enforcement action in Minneapolis. The shooting prompted a response from major Minnesota corporations, who released a joint letter on January 25 calling for "deescalation" but offering no specific policy demands or explicit condemnation of the killings.
• Federal immigration agents fatally shoot Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti during enforcement operation — The Department of Homeland Security released an initial investigation report to Congress indicating that two Customs and Border Protection officers discharged their firearms at Alex Pretti during a fatal shooting in Minneapolis on January 27. The report states that during an attempted custody operation, Pretti resisted and a struggle ensued, after which a border patrol agent and a CBP officer each fired their service weapons. The report confirms video evidence of Pretti assisting a woman confronted by agents and notes that a firearm was recovered from Pretti's possession.
• ICE agents attack US citizen Maria during immigration enforcement operation in Salem, Oregon — On an unspecified date in January 2026, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at Minneapolis VA Medical Center, during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Pretti was filming the agents when he was tackled, disarmed, and fatally shot. Trump administration officials falsely claimed Pretti "brandished" a gun and labeled him a "would-be assassin," but bystander video evidence shows Pretti holding only a phone and having been disarmed before shots were fired. The shooting represents the second fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis that month.
• — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents pulled a US citizen named Maria from her vehicle in Salem, Oregon, after boxing in her car and smashing the window. Agents threw her to the ground and left her without medical care until discovering her US passport. Maria, a homecare worker and SEIU Local 503 member, sustained a concussion and bruised ribs. The incident prompted unions to raise nearly $20,000 for her support and sparked broader labor movement response to ICE enforcement surge.

Supporting reports

• ICE agent labeled legal observer as domestic terrorist for recording — An ICE agent in Maine photographed a legal observer's car and, when questioned about why he was taking her information, responded that she was being added to a database and "considered a domestic terrorist." The agent appeared to be referencing Trump's September 25, 2025, memo NSPM-7, which describes opposition to the administration's policies—protected by the First Amendment—as "domestic terrorism."

Supporting reports

• Secretary Noem falsely labeled killed woman as domestic terrorist — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem falsely claimed that Renee Good, who was killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, attempted to run over the agent and characterized her death as "an act of domestic terrorism." Vice President J.D. Vance suggested that protesters are engaging in "domestic terror techniques." These characterizations misapply the legal definition of domestic terrorism, which requires commission of one of 51 specific federal crimes involving weapons of mass destruction or air piracy.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration executive order directs alteration of federal historical materials — In an executive order issued in March 2025, Trump accused the Biden administration of promoting "improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology" and instructed the Interior Secretary to alter materials under the department's control that "have been improperly removed or changed in the last five years to perpetuate a false revision of history or improperly minimize or disparage certain historical figures or events." The order has already resulted in changes to Smithsonian Institution displays, including removal of text discussing Trump's impeachment and role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack from the National Portrait Gallery.
• National Park Service dismantles slavery-related exhibit at President's House site in Philadelphia — The National Park Service, under the Trump administration, removed informational displays about enslaved people from the President's House site in Independence National Historical Park, which was the former residence of George Washington and John Adams. The exhibit, established in 2010 following a 2006 city-agency agreement and a 2003 Congressional directive, included panels recognizing people enslaved by Washington and a chronology of U.S. slavery. Philadelphia filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday against the Department of Interior, Secretary Doug Burgum, the NPS, and Acting Director Jessica Bowron, seeking restoration of the exhibits.

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• Trump administration embracing Nazi propaganda to redefine American identity — According to Ali Breland of The Atlantic, the Trump administration is embracing Nazi propaganda and attempting to convince Americans that the nation's roots lie not in human equality but in the hierarchical system of European fascism. Rather than rooting itself in the Declaration of Independence and principles of liberty and equality, the administration is trying to define the United States as a nation based on "blood and soil"—belonging determined by ethnicity and ancestry rather than ideals.

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• NIH ends funding for research using human fetal tissue from elective abortions — The National Institutes of Health announced it will no longer fund research using human fetal tissue obtained from elective abortions, effective immediately. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya framed the ban as advancing science through modernization and alignment with American values. The policy reverses Biden-era guidance that had lifted Trump's first-term restrictions. In fiscal year 2024, the NIH had directed approximately $60 million to 77 projects involving fetal tissue. Fetal tissue research has contributed to advances in diabetes, Alzheimer's, infertility, and vaccine development.

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• Trump administration promotes medical misinformation on pregnancy and vaccines; ACOG leadership responds publicly — The Trump administration has made unsupported claims about Tylenol causing autism in pregnant women and prompted the FDA to convene an unbalanced panel on antidepressants in pregnancy. The CDC stopped recommending Covid vaccines for pregnant women. ACOG president Steven Fleischman publicly criticized these moves as departing from scientific evidence. The administration's executive orders on DEI also prompted ACOG to reject federal funding in summer 2025 to preserve research independence and health equity work.

Supporting reports

• Medical examiner ruled detainee death in ICE custody a homicide — The El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner ruled that the death of 55-year-old Cuban-born Geraldo Lunas Campos, detained at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, was a homicide. Lunas Campos died of asphyxiation after guards applied pressure to his neck and chest during an altercation in which he requested medication. Two detainees testified they witnessed guards choking Lunas Campos, who repeatedly stated he could not breathe. The Trump administration subsequently attempted to deport the two witnesses. At least 30 people died in ICE detention in the previous year, the highest number in twenty years, with six deaths in the first two weeks of 2026.
• Secretary Noem falsely labeled killed woman as domestic terrorist — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem falsely claimed that Renee Good, who was killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, attempted to run over the agent and characterized her death as "an act of domestic terrorism." Vice President J.D. Vance suggested that protesters are engaging in "domestic terror techniques." These characterizations misapply the legal definition of domestic terrorism, which requires commission of one of 51 specific federal crimes involving weapons of mass destruction or air piracy.

Supporting reports

• Trump delivers address at World Economic Forum in Davos with multiple false and exaggerated claims — Donald Trump addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 22, 2026, making numerous claims about foreign policy achievements, technological leadership, renewable energy, NATO support, and budget matters. Fact-checkers found the claims ranged from exaggerated to provably false, including assertions about settling eight wars, leading China in AI, China's wind capacity, NATO allies' commitment, and the US ownership of Greenland. The speech exemplified a pattern of dubious assertions presented as fact to an international audience.

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• Belgium denied joining Trump's Board of Peace after White House announcement — White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt announced Belgium had agreed to join the Board of Peace. Belgium's foreign minister Maxime Prevot immediately contradicted the claim, stating Belgium has not signed the Charter and has not agreed to join. Prevot reiterated Belgium's preference for a common European response and expressed reservations about the proposal.

Supporting reports

• Department of Homeland Security launches immigration crackdown operation in Maine — The Department of Homeland Security launched an immigration enforcement operation in Maine, officially dubbed "Catch of the Day," as part of the Trump administration's expanded immigration enforcement efforts.
• ICE launches "Operation Catch of the Day" immigration enforcement in Maine — Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents launched a targeted operation in Maine on January 21, 2026, claiming to target "the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens." The operation has resulted in 206 detentions, though DHS provided only four examples of individuals with criminal records. Workers, unions, and residents report widespread racial profiling, fear, and economic disruption. Senator Susan Collins claimed the operation ended at her request, but residents and labor leaders dispute this, saying ICE remains active and causing ongoing chaos in the state.
• ICE launches Operation Catch of the Day targeting Somali immigrants in Maine — The Trump administration deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Maine on January 21, 2026, in a targeted operation dubbed "Operation Catch of the Day" aimed at Somali immigrants. Approximately 50 arrests were made on the first day, with ICE stating it has compiled a list of 1,400 individuals in Maine to target. The operation follows similar enforcement surges in Minneapolis and comes after the Trump administration announced it would end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis, giving hundreds two months to depart or face removal.
• DHS launches immigration crackdown operation in Maine dubbed "Catch of the Day" — The Department of Homeland Security launched an immigration enforcement operation in Maine with the name "Catch of the Day," as part of the Trump administration's expanded immigration crackdown efforts.
• Trump administration announces end of temporary protected status for Somalis — The Trump administration announced that in March 2026 it would terminate the temporary protected status (TPS) designation for Somali nationals in the United States. TPS has provided work authorization and protection from deportation for migrants from Somalia. This announcement follows the deployment of 2,000 ICE officers and 800 CBP agents to Minneapolis, which has the largest Somali population in the US, and the initiation of targeted arrests of Somalis in Maine.
• DHS deploys thousands of federal agents in Twin Cities under Operation Metro Surge — Thousands of DHS agents remain deployed in the Twin Cities under a federal operation branded "Operation Metro Surge." The deployment is ongoing as of January 23, 2026, and has prompted Minnesota's statewide economic blackout response and raised constitutional concerns about Fourth Amendment protections in the context of the leaked ICE memo on warrantless home entry.
• ICE enforcement surge in Maine under Operation Catch of the Day results in 100+ arrests within three days — ICE activity ramped up in Maine during the week of January 23, 2026, under a DHS-led enforcement operation branded "Operation Catch of the Day." Federal officials claim the operation targets "criminal" cases, but Maine leaders demanded transparency after reports of dozens of arrests on day one and over 100 arrests within the first three days. Local officials, including Cumberland County Sheriff, criticized ICE after one of his corrections-officer recruits with valid work authorization was detained. Growing fear has been reported in immigrant communities.
• ICE conducts mass immigration enforcement sweep across Maine, rapidly transferring detainees out of state — ICE agents conducted a federal immigration crackdown across Maine this week, apprehending more than 200 people. Federal authorities rapidly transferred detainees out of state, making it difficult for families and attorneys to locate them and file legal challenges. At least 50 immigrants were removed from Cumberland County jail on Thursday following a dispute between the sheriff and ICE over enforcement tactics. Data shows over 45% of Maine detainees are transferred to Louisiana, where some are held in tent facilities. Immigration attorneys report the pace of transfers appears designed to prevent legal intervention.

Supporting reports

• Trump's social media account reposts debunked 2020 election fraud claims — Trump's social media account reposted long-debunked claims about the 2020 presidential election, including false assertions that there was voter fraud in Nevada, that Dominion Voting Machines flipped 435,000 votes from Trump to Biden, and that China rigged voting for Biden. The timing coincides with Special Counsel Jack Smith's scheduled public testimony on January 22 regarding Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.

Supporting reports

• Trump threatened prosecution of DOJ officials over 2020 election claims — At the Davos speech, Trump stated that "People will soon be prosecuted for what they did" regarding the 2020 presidential election, which he falsely claimed was rigged. He asserted that DOJ officials and others would face prosecution for refusing to help him overturn the election results. The threat was made one day before former special counsel Jack Smith was scheduled to testify publicly about evidence leading to Trump's indictment for efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
• President Trump threatens prosecution of DOJ officials — During a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Trump claimed that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was rigged and threatened to prosecute Department of Justice officials who did not assist him in overturning the election results. This statement came as former special counsel Jack Smith was set to testify about evidence related to Trump's actions following the election. Trump's remarks indicate a continued effort to undermine the legitimacy of the election and discredit those who oppose him.
• Trump threatened Jack Smith and demanded investigation — After Jack Smith testified before the House Judiciary Committee, Trump's social media account posted a threatening message calling Smith a "deranged animal" who "shouldn't be allowed to practice Law" and stating that if Smith were a Republican, "his license would be taken away from him, and far worse." Trump demanded that the Attorney General investigate Smith's conduct, including his use of witnesses, and characterized the entire investigation as a "Democrat SCAM."
• Trump calls for prosecution of Jack Smith on Truth Social — On Truth Social, President Trump responded to Jack Smith's congressional testimony by calling for Smith to "be prosecuted for his actions" and arguing that "At a minimum, he committed large scale perjury!"
• Jack Smith testifies he expects Trump administration to indict him — During his public testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, former special counsel Jack Smith stated that he believes Trump administration officials will "do everything in their power" to indict him "because they've been ordered to by the president," but added that he "will not be intimidated." Smith also expressed concern about Trump's mass pardons of people who assaulted police officers.

Supporting reports

• Arrest and detention of Patty O'Keefe by ICE agents in Minneapolis — Patty O'Keefe, a 36-year-old environmental nonprofit worker and volunteer ICE monitor, was arrested by three ICE agents while tracking an ICE convoy. One agent pepper-sprayed her vehicle and smashed the front windows; she was hauled out and arrested. O'Keefe was transported to an ICE facility near the airport, held for eight hours in a section designated for U.S. citizens, and heard detainees awaiting deportation. She was released without charge. During detention, an officer allegedly taunted her with a reference to Renee Good's death.

Supporting reports

• Sortor appears to admit driving vehicle at Minneapolis protesters — Sortor posted a video claiming he was surrounded by "anti-ICE rioters" who smashed his windows and attempted to kill him, but included an apparent admission that he drove his vehicle at protesters: "I was forced to drive away to save our lives, repeatedly warning those standing in front to GET OUT OF THE WAY. They didn't listen, so I had no choice but to go anyway." Alternative video evidence from Mercado Media showed Sortor had initiated physical altercation and accelerated toward protesters with none behind his vehicle.

Supporting reports

• Research showed Americans bear tariff costs, not foreigners — Wall Street Journal reporting on research by the Kiel Institute analyzing $4 trillion of shipments between January 2024 and November 2025 found that foreign exporters absorbed only about 4% of the burden of U.S. tariff increases by lowering their prices. The research contradicts Trump's repeated claims that his tariffs are paid for by foreigners, demonstrating instead that Americans bear almost the entire cost of tariffs through higher prices.
• Study confirms American consumers and importers bear 96% of tariff costs, contradicting Trump's claims — The Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German think tank, confirmed findings by Yale and Harvard Business School economists that American consumers and importers—not foreign countries—have absorbed 96% of the cost of Trump's tariff war, directly contradicting Trump's repeated public assertions about the burden of tariffs.

Supporting reports

• Federal judge allows DHS to require week's notice for congressional ICE facility inspections — A federal judge in Washington DC ruled that the Department of Homeland Security can require lawmakers to provide one week's advance notice before inspecting immigration detention facilities. The ruling came despite the same judge blocking an identical policy in December, but the administration claimed it was now enforcing the requirement using different funding. The decision allows the Trump administration to continue restricting congressional oversight of ICE operations while separate litigation proceeds over aggressive federal enforcement actions in Minnesota.

Supporting reports

• White House posted AI-altered image of arrested protester — The White House posted an image of arrested protester Nekima Levy-Armstrong on social media following her arrest. The image was altered using artificial intelligence to show her crying hysterically, whereas the original photograph from the scene showed her appearing defiant. The discrepancy was quickly noticed by observers.
• White House posted AI-generated images of arrested Minneapolis protesters — The White House posted what appear to be AI-generated images connected to ongoing arrests of protesters in Minneapolis, including an AI-altered image depicting a protest organizer with tears streaming down her face. The original image shows no such thing. This represents a deeply unethical abuse of federal government power, effectively manufacturing visual narratives to intimidate, discredit, or prejudice individuals before they have had their day in court.
• White House posts digitally altered image of arrested activist on social media — The White House posted a digitally altered photograph of activist Nekima Levy Armstrong on social media, manipulating the image to falsely portray her as crying and darkening her skin. The caption falsely described her as an "arrested far-left agitator" who "orchestrated church riots." The deception was uncovered by the Guardian and other news outlets after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had posted the original, unaltered image showing Armstrong composed and dignified.
• White House posts digitally altered image of arrested protester — The White House posted a digitally altered photograph of Nekima Levy Armstrong, arrested during an ICE protest disruption in St. Paul, Minnesota on January 23, 2026. The altered image depicted her crying, whereas the original showed her composed. Guardian analysis confirmed the images were identical except for digital manipulation of her facial expression and apparent skin tone. The White House did not deny the alteration when questioned, instead responding with a statement defending law enforcement.
• White House posts doctored photo of arrested Minneapolis activist — The White House posted a digitally altered photograph of Nekima Levy Armstrong, a Black woman arrested during a protest at a Minneapolis church on January 23, 2026. The image darkened her skin tone and added tears to her face. Armstrong is one of three people arrested in connection with the disruptive protest. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had posted unaltered images of the other two defendants, but only Armstrong's image was manipulated by the White House. Legal experts say the act may be raised in court but is unlikely to derail the case entirely.

Supporting reports

• Claimed Civil Rights Act harmed white people — In a New York Times interview, Trump claimed that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 led to white people being "very badly treated."
• Trump announces expansion of defamation lawsuit against New York Times over unfavorable poll — President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that he is expanding his existing defamation lawsuit against the New York Times to include claims related to a Times/Siena University poll showing his approval rating at 40%. Trump alleged the poll was "heavily skewed toward Democrats" and "fake results," and instructed his lawyers to demand the Times preserve records of how the poll was "computed." The Times responded by defending its polling methodology as rigorous and independent of political favorability.
• Trump threatened legal action against polling organizations over unfavorable poll — Following release of a New York Times/Siena poll showing Trump with 40% job approval and 56% disapproval across multiple policy areas, Trump posted three lengthy posts on Truth Social threatening to sue the Times and prosecute polling companies criminally. Trump claimed the polls were "fake" and "tremendously negative," and stated his lawyers had demanded the Times preserve records of how results were "computed."
• Trump delivers address at World Economic Forum in Davos with multiple false and exaggerated claims — Donald Trump addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 22, 2026, making numerous claims about foreign policy achievements, technological leadership, renewable energy, NATO support, and budget matters. Fact-checkers found the claims ranged from exaggerated to provably false, including assertions about settling eight wars, leading China in AI, China's wind capacity, NATO allies' commitment, and the US ownership of Greenland. The speech exemplified a pattern of dubious assertions presented as fact to an international audience.
• Trump threatened to criminalize polling and sued New York Times — After the New York Times/Siena poll was released showing his approval at 40%, Trump's social media account posted that "Fake and Fraudulent Polling should be, virtually, a criminal offense" and claimed polls during the 2020 election were knowingly wrong and designed to influence the outcome. Trump announced he would add the Times/Siena poll to an existing lawsuit against the New York Times, threatening legal action against the news organization for publishing polling data.
• Trump threatened to sue New York Times over approval rating poll — Trump spent the morning lashing out at the press and threatened to sue The New York Times over its latest Siena poll, which shows his approval rating deeply underwater. Trump labeled the poll fake, accused the paper of fraud, and demanded internal records. The poll showed Trump with a net approval of minus sixteen and underwater on nearly every major issue, from the economy to foreign relations to immigration.
• Trump continues to repost conspiracy theories about 2020 election — Trump is still reposting conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, including content from QAnon-linked accounts. Many lawyers who pushed these lies lost their licenses, but the damage to the information environment remains.