Barack Obama Condemns DHS Over Alex Pretti Shooting, Issues Rare Rebuke of Trump Administration
Former President Barack Obama has issued an unusually direct political statement condemning the Department of Homeland Security and criticizing President Donald Trump following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
In a message shared on social media Sunday, Obama described Pretti’s death as both a tragedy and a warning sign for the nation, calling on Americans across the political spectrum to take notice.
“The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy,” Obama wrote. “It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.”
Obama went on to criticize the actions of federal immigration agents, saying public outrage was justified over what he described as aggressive and intimidating tactics used by ICE and other federal officers in Minneapolis.
“People across the country have been rightly outraged by the spectacle of masked federal agents acting with impunity,” Obama stated, accusing them of employing methods that appeared designed to provoke, harass, and endanger civilians in a major U.S. city.
The former president’s comments came one day after Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents during a confrontation in downtown Minneapolis. According to reports, Pretti intervened as agents were pepper-spraying a woman during an arrest.
Authorities allege Pretti was carrying a loaded firearm at the time. Agents reportedly removed the weapon from his belt before firing approximately ten shots, killing him at the scene.
While acknowledging that immigration officers face difficult and often dangerous responsibilities, Obama placed blame on the current administration for what he described as a pattern of escalation and lack of accountability.
“Current administration officials appear eager to escalate the situation,” Obama wrote, adding that public explanations for the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good were offered without serious investigation and, in his view, conflicted with available video evidence.
Obama’s statement marks his first public response to the unrest in Minneapolis, which began earlier this month after ICE agents fatally shot Renee Good, an American woman who allegedly attempted to block officers with her vehicle. An agent opened fire after being struck, killing her.
President Trump has repeatedly blamed Democratic leadership in Minnesota for fueling the unrest. The White House accused Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of encouraging violent protests, citing Frey’s widely circulated remarks telling ICE to leave the city.
Following Pretti’s death, Trump doubled down on his criticism, accusing state and local leaders of inciting chaos.
“The Mayor and the Governor are inciting Insurrection,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, calling their rhetoric dangerous and irresponsible.
As demonstrations continue and political tensions intensify, Obama’s remarks stand out as a rare and pointed condemnation from a former president — underscoring the growing national debate over immigration enforcement, federal authority, and the use of force.