Former US President Donald Trump has publicly described Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse, as "crazed and out of control," referencing widely circulated videos of the healthcare worker's heated confrontation with federal immigration agents during a protest in Minneapolis. This incident occurred just days before Pretti was fatally shot in a separate encounter.
Trump's Social Media Commentary on the Viral Incident
In a detailed post on his Truth Social platform, Trump did not hold back in his assessment of Pretti's behavior during the protest. He characterized the nurse as an "agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist," noting that "Alex Pretti's stock has gone way down with the just released video of him screaming and spitting in the face of a very calm and under control ICE Officer."
The former president further elaborated on the physical altercation, stating that Pretti was "crazily kicking in a new and very expensive government vehicle, so hard and violent, in fact, that the taillight broke off in pieces." Trump concluded this part of his statement by emphasizing, "It was quite a display of abuse and anger, for all to see, crazed and out of control."
Praise for ICE Agents Amid the Confrontation
In stark contrast to his criticism of Pretti, Trump offered commendation for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers involved in the incident. He specifically highlighted that "The ICE Officer was calm and cool, not an easy thing to be under those circumstances!" This praise underscores the former president's ongoing support for federal law enforcement agencies and their operations.
Trump's post culminated with his signature campaign slogan, "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," reinforcing the political context of his remarks. This commentary follows earlier calls from Trump, made after Pretti's death, for cooperation from state governors and Democratic officials to enforce national laws.
Analyzing the Viral Video Footage
The controversial video that sparked Trump's response shows Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse employed at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, engaged in a physical and verbal altercation with federal officers. In the footage, Pretti can be seen shouting expletives at the agents, struggling against their restraint, and delivering forceful kicks to their vehicle that resulted in significant damage to the taillight.
Additional moments captured in the video include Pretti yelling at federal vehicles and appearing to spit toward the driver's side of a car with emergency lights activated. As the vehicle began to move away, Pretti delivered multiple kicks, with the second impact shattering the red plastic casing and leaving the taillight dangling from the vehicle.
The Fatal Shooting Incident Days Later
In a tragic turn of events, Alex Pretti was shot and killed last weekend on a sidewalk adjacent to the street where he had been filming immigration officers. Bystander video footage of this separate incident shows one officer pushing Pretti to the ground, with approximately half a dozen officers attempting to subdue him.
The situation escalated when an officer spotted Pretti's weapon—which he was legally licensed to carry—and shouted, "He's got a gun." This declaration prompted two officers to open fire, resulting in Pretti's death. While Trump administration officials initially claimed Pretti had approached officers with a gun and attacked them, subsequent reports from the Associated Press indicate that video evidence shows Pretti never brandished his firearm and did not assault any officer during the altercation.
According to these reports, Pretti was holding his phone when he was shot in the back while on the ground, raising significant questions about the circumstances surrounding his death. The conflicting narratives between official statements and video evidence have intensified public scrutiny of the incident and the broader issues of law enforcement interactions with civilians.
