{"id":2553303,"date":"2026-01-26T22:02:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T03:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-immigration-footing-comes-unstuck-by-minnesota-shooting-5\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T22:04:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T03:04:37","slug":"trumps-immigration-footing-comes-unstuck-by-minnesota-shooting-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-immigration-footing-comes-unstuck-by-minnesota-shooting-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump&#8217;s immigration footing comes unstuck by Minnesota shooting"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrumps-immigration-footing-comes-unstuck-by-minnesota-shooting-5%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2553303&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>President Trump\u2019s immigration push suffered a political blow after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during a Border Patrol operation in Minneapolis. Management officials initially described Pretti as violently hostile, but video footage raised doubts about that account and forced the White House into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/proterra-lurches-into-damage-control-mode-in-wake-of-free-beacon-reports\/\" title=\"Proterra Lurches Into Damage...Control Mode in Wake of Free Beacon Reports\">damage-control mode<\/a>. The incident has prompted calls from Republicans for investigations and threats from democrats that could disrupt appropriations, while polls show slipping approval for Trump\u2019s immigration policies.<\/p>\n<p>Inside the administration, aides privately criticized the handling and messaging around the operation, singling out figures like Kristi Noem and stephen miller. Trump sent border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis to manage federal operations and communications, and later spoke with Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey; Walz pushed for independent probes and said Trump agreed to consider reducing federal agents in the state. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to repeat earlier, harsher characterizations of Pretti and emphasized awaiting the results of investigations.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump&rsquo;s immigration footing comes unstuck as Minnesota shooting turns into &lsquo;Operation Cluster****&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2484903\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The White House shifted into damage-control mode Monday after the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4432691\/what-to-know-fatal-shooting-border-patrol-minnesota\/\">fatal shooting of Alex Pretti<\/a> forced officials to soften their rhetoric and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >exposed rare political vulnerability<\/a> for the president on his strongest issue with voters: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/policy\/immigration\/\">Immigration<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Pretti was fatally shot Saturday during a confrontation with U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, the second American citizen killed this month during an immigration enforcement operation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4434653\/trump-coalition-frays-gun-rights-minnesota-shooting-justification\/\">Gun groups split with Trump administration over Minnesota shooting<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4433972\/white-house-karoline-leavitt-minnesota-shooting\/\">White House tries to split the baby on Minnesota shooting<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4433283\/noem-called-victims-ice-shooting-domestic-terrorist-fit-definition\/\">Noem has called victims of ICE shootings domestic terrorists. Do they fit the definition?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Administration officials initially described Pretti as violently hostile, but video from the incident has cast doubt on those assertions, prompting a noticeably more cautious tone from President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump <\/a>and his aides by Monday. Complicating matters, Republicans on Capitol Hill are demanding an investigation into Pretti&rsquo;s death, while Democrats are <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4432706\/senate-democrats-derail-appropriations-passage-minneapolis-shooting\/\">threatening a partial government shutdown<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The episode comes as Trump&rsquo;s standing on immigration shows signs of slipping. Polls from the <em>New York Times<\/em> and <em>Politico <\/em>show approval of Trump&rsquo;s immigration policies declining, while Rasmussen pegged his overall approval at 39% &mdash; a 14-point drop since last summer.<\/p>\n<p>Multiple Trumpworld insiders sounded the alarm on the issue while speaking with the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Operation Metro Surge? More like Operation Damage Control,&rdquo; one Trump administration official said sarcastically. &ldquo;I was gonna say Operation Cluster****, but I doubt they&rsquo;d let you put that in a headline.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A former Trump White House aide predicted to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that, despite the White House&rsquo;s insistence that Trump maintains confidence in Homeland Security Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kristi-noem\/\">Kristi Noem<\/a>, she&rsquo;s &ldquo;definitely on the chopping block.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>That person additionally took a shot at White House deputy chief of staff <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/stephen-miller\/\">Stephen Miller<\/a>, whom they blamed for giving Trump poor counsel &ldquo;for weeks&rdquo; about the operation in Minnesota and public perceptions of the president&rsquo;s overall deportation agenda.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s not going anywhere,&rdquo; that person assessed. &ldquo;But I think it&rsquo;s safe to say that his days of playing shadow president are over.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>White House press secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/karoline-leavitt\/\">Karoline Leavitt<\/a> denied that Trump has lost any faith in Miller, the overall architect of the president&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-immigration-footing-comes-unstuck-by-minnesota-shooting\/\" title=\"Trump&#039;s ... comes unstuck by Minnesota shooting\">immigration platform dating back<\/a> to the 2016 campaign.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Stephen Miller is one of President Trump&rsquo;s most trusted and longest-serving aides,&rdquo; she told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> in a statement. &ldquo;The president loves Stephen.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s first order of business on Monday was to dispatch <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tom-homan\/\">Tom Homan<\/a>, the White House&rsquo;s border czar, to Minneapolis to take over federal operations and communications with state and local officials. One Trump administration official told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that Homan&rsquo;s deployment indicated that the president &ldquo;needs an adult in the room&rdquo; and was displeased with comments and decisions made by Noem and U.S. Border Patrol head Greg Bovino. A DHS official confirmed to the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>that Bovino and some other Border Patrol assets were being sent back to Texas Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>Later in the day, Trump spoke with Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both of whom the administration had suggested shared blame for the unrest, based on their calls for Minnesotans to actively resist deportation proceedings. But on Truth Social, Trump referred to his conversation with Walz as a &ldquo;very good call,&rdquo; suggesting the two leaders discussed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-u-s-and-germany-to-push-ukraine-to-enter-peace-negotiations-with-putin\/\" title=\"U.S. and Germany urge Ukraine to engage in peace talks with Putin\">potential de-escalation<\/a> of &ldquo;Operation Metro Surge.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength,&rdquo; Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4433652\/trump-tim-walz-similar-wavelength-ice-minnesota\/\">wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Walz&rsquo;s office referred to the call as &ldquo;productive&rdquo; and added that the governor pressured Trump to allow independent investigations into the killings of Pretti and Good. <\/p>\n<p>An aide for Walz said the president &ldquo;also agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/115963713974102712\">Frey<\/a>, according to the president, will meet with Homan Tuesday in Minneapolis, with Trump adding that &ldquo;lots of progress is being made&rdquo; following their call.<\/p>\n<p>And during her Monday afternoon briefing, Leavitt declined to echo comments made by Noem and Miller on Saturday that Pretti &ldquo;attacked&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/d-c-mayor-congress-must-open-a-probe-into-security-failures-at-u-s-capitol\/\" title=\"D.C. Mayor: Congress must open a probe into security failures at U.S. Capitol\">federal law enforcement<\/a> and was a &ldquo;would-be assassin&rdquo; who &ldquo;tried to murder&rdquo; federal agents.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4433652\/trump-tim-walz-similar-wavelength-ice-minnesota\/\"><strong>TRUMP SAYS HE AND WALZ ARE ON &lsquo;SIMILAR WAVELENGTH&rsquo; AFTER PHONE CALL OVER ICE OPERATIONS IN MINNESOTA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Asked about those statements, Leavitt said that she had not heard the president &ldquo;characterize&rdquo; Pretti in that way but declined to comment on potential wrongdoing of federal officials until the investigations into Pretti&rsquo;s killing are finished.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts and the investigation lead itself,&rdquo; she added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Minnesota shooting weakens Trump&#8217;s immigration stance<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3394,"featured_media":2553304,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-collage-gcl2jdyh7-1769473866157-e1769475701486.jpg?1769457726&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[34991,3813,57327,3634,32515],"class_list":["post-2553303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-gun-violence","tag-immigration","tag-minnesota-shooting","tag-trump","tag-us-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-collage-gcl2jdyh7-1769473866157-e1769475701486.jpg?1769457726&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2553303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3394"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2553303"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2553303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2553307,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2553303\/revisions\/2553307"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2553304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2553303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2553303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2553303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}