Alex Pretti over black background

Andrea Austria / Media Matters

Research/Study Research/Study

The right-wing media figures who have justified Alex Pretti's killing by Trump’s DHS

MAGA media and far-right figures smeared Pretti, calling him a “race traitor” who aimed to “commit a mass murder”

Written by Noah Dowe & Isabella Sherk

Research contributions from Alex Kaplan

Published

Following the January 24 killing of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, many right-wing media figures jumped to blame Pretti for his own death and spread false information about his actions.

“Shame on that individual for creating the very consequences that ultimately cost him his life,” said one Newsmax guest. Former Fox host Megyn Kelly remarked, “Do you know why I wasn't shot by Border Patrol this weekend? Because I kept my ass inside and out of their operations.” Echoing false claims by the Department of Homeland Security, right-wing media figures also baselessly stated that Pretti was a “domestic terrorist” who tried to “confront ICE” with a gun or “commit a mass murder” of federal agents. 

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  • After Border Patrol agents shot and killed Pretti, the Trump administration jumped to smear him before details emerged

    • On January 24, Alex Pretti was shot and killed by multiple Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis while “on his knees and restrained.” Shortly before the killing, Pretti “appears to be trying to help” another civilian pushed to the ground by agents. Though Pretti was carrying a legally permitted weapon, The New York Times noted, “The agent in the gray coat removes the weapon from the scene. …Then, while Mr. Pretti is on his knees and restrained, the agent standing directly above him appears to fire one shot at Mr. Pretti at close range. He immediately fires three additional shots.” [The New York Times, 1/24/26]
    • The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement suggesting the shooting “look[ed] like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement,” and administration figures labeled Pretti a “would-be assassin” guilty of “domestic terrorism.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Pretti was “wishing to inflict harm on these officers,” and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller described him as an “assassin [who] tried to murder federal agents.” [Forbes, 1/26/26; The Hill, 1/26/26]
    • Multiple outlets conducted independent analyses of videos from the scene or consulted use-of-force experts, finding that DHS agents “escalated a fatal confrontation” and that Pretti did “not appear to pose a threat” to them. The Washington Post found that agents “had already secured a handgun he was carrying by the time they fatally shot him.” PBS News reported: “None of the half-dozen bystander videos shows Pretti brandishing his gun. Rather, the videos showed Pretti's hands were only holding his mobile phone as a masked Border Patrol officer opened fire.” [The New York Times, 1/24/26, 1/27/26; The Washington Post, 1/25/26; The Wall Street Journal, 1/24/26; CNN, 1/24/26; Bellingcat, 1/25/26; PBS News, 1/26/26] 

  • Right-wing media figures justified Pretti’s killing, with some blaming him for his own death

    • White nationalist streamer Nick Fuentes called Pretti a “race traitor” and said his death means “one less asshole in the world.” Fuentes complained about those who “feel sorry for these race traitors that laid down their life in defense of this scheme,” referring to Pretti and Immigration and Customs Enforcement shooting victim Renee Good, and remarked, “If you're out there throwing yourself in front of ICE to die for these dirt bags, let them. Let them. One less asshole in the world. One less traitor in the world. That's what I say.” [Rumble, America First with Nick Fuentes, 1/26/26] 
    • Right-wing host Megyn Kelly mocked Pretti, saying, “Do you know why I wasn't shot by Border Patrol this weekend? Because I kept my ass inside and out of their operations.” She remarked, “I know I'm supposed to feel sorry for Alex Pretti, but I don't. I don't.” [SiriusXM, The Megyn Kelly Show, 1/26/26]
    • After comparing Pretti to the BTK serial killer, Newsmax's Greg Kelly said he “did a very, very, very stupid thing showing up the way he did, going in the middle of the street, taping things, directing traffic, getting in the way.” Kelly also complained about the media making Pretti into a “new saint,” adding, “I can't just pretend because you're dead, you're like the superior person.” [Newsmax, Greg Kelly Reports, 1/26/26] 
    • Conservative commentator Steven Crowder argued mass deportations should continue despite the killings of Pretti and Good, arguing, “I think there's a way we can do it where the American public won't be swayed by these extremists who want to martyr themselves.” Though he admitted that “this is not as clear-cut as Renee Good,” Crowder said, “Don’t break the law. Don’t try and undo the vote of the American people, who did vote for this. Don’t screw around with law enforcement for no justifiable reason, and you’ll probably be OK.” [Rumble, Louder With Crowder, 1/26/26, 1/26/26]
    • Newsmax guest Charles Marino: “Shame on that individual for creating the very consequences that ultimately cost him his life, unfortunately.” Marino also commented, “The Second Amendment does not come without some responsibility.” [Newsmax, Wake Up America Early, 1/26/26]
    • Daily Wire host Matt Walsh called Pretti a “domestic terrorist” and said he “quite literally had it coming.” Walsh declared that Pretti “was part of an organized campaign to legally obstruct law enforcement operations on behalf of open borders communists who want to destroy the country. He was a domestic terrorist dressed in the same color scheme as Border Patrol agents who did exactly what he set out to do.” [The Daily Wire, The Matt Walsh Show, 1/27/26] 
    • Fox host Charlie Hurt: “Only one person could have prevented this from happening, and it's Alex Pretti. He should not have been there, he should not have confronted ICE.” Co-host Griff Jenkins agreed and said Pretti’s death was “avoidable,” demanding, “Why does a nurse feel compelled to go confront ICE armed with a 9 mm handgun?” [Fox News, Fox & Friends Weekend, 1/25/26] 
    • Daily Wire host Michael Knowles said agents “were justified any way you slice it,” and claimed Pretti tried to “fight with cops while carrying a gun.” Knowles then gloated, “It's real easy not to get shot by the cops. I've been doing it my whole life, so have you.” [Daily Wire, The Michael Knowles Show, 1/26/26] 
    • On Truth Social, conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec suggested Pretti was a “domestic terrorist” who carried out an “illegal armed roadblock to obstruct federal law enforcement,” adding, “Being a domestic terrorist is a good way to get shot.” In another post, Posobiec blamed Pretti's supposed lack of identification for his killing, writing, “Lawful gun owners don’t go around without ID conducting armed Antifa roadblocks to interfere with ICE. Who does? Domestic terrorists.” [Media Matters, 5/11/17; Truth Social, 1/25/26, 1/25/26] 
    • Infowars host Alex Jones blamed Pretti for his own death, stating the Border Patrol agents “thought they were in danger and he came with a gun and stuck himself in the middle of a riot.” Jones mused, “I-35 is a few miles from here. People are driving 85 miles an hour on it, and if I just stood on the side of the road and just ran out in front of cars. Somebody hits me, … it's not their fault.” [Infowars, The Alex Jones Show, 1/25/26]
    • Newmax host Carl Higbie claimed Pretti “got physical” with DHS agents, arguing, “He could have just stood there off to the side, blowing his little rape whistle like a little beta. But he got physical.” [Newsmax, Carl Higbie Frontline, 1/26/26] 
    • Fox host Jesse Watters: “These are the types of things that happen, unfortunately and sadly, when you bring a loaded gun to a dangerous immigration raid, confront agents, and resist arrest.” Watters said it was “unclear” whether Pretti’s gun was removed prior to the shooting. [Fox News, Jesse Watters Primetime, 1/26/26] 
    • Right-wing streamer Laura Loomer said she was “personally of the mindset where I'm like, yep. Fuck around. Find out.” She continued, saying, “It was his right to carry that gun. OK. Well, it's also your right to remove yourself from a situation and not get in the faces of ICE agents while they are carrying out an immigration raid.” Loomer also baselessly claimed Pretti “went to grab for his waistband.” [Rumble, Loomer Unleashed, 1/26/26]
    • The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro asserted that Pretti was “resisting” and that resisting federal law enforcement “is a crime,” saying, “Do not do it.” Shapiro added, “Sure, there can be circumstance in which somebody on the ground surrounded by officers is still a threat to officers. … Could that happen with a person who is being piled on by multiple officers? Sure.” [The Daily Wire, The Ben Shapiro Show, 1/26/26]
    • Kick streamer Baked Alaska argued “the ICE action was 100% justified and totally vindicated” and blamed Pretti for his death, saying he was “fighting with police, he had a gun — I think he must've reached for it. Fuck around, find out.” [Kick, Baked Alaska, 1/24/26]

  • Others falsely claimed Pretti drew his gun or intended to attack or “mass murder” DHS agents

    • MAGA podcaster Benny Johnson claimed that Pretti “attempted to pull this SIG Sauer handgun on federal officers and commit a mass murder.” He also suggested that Pretti “decided to go Leeroy Jenkins and go and engage law enforcement” and claimed that he “resisted arrest” and “fought law enforcement.” [YouTube, The Benny Show, 1/24/26, 1/26/26]
    • Fox guest and former acting ICE Director Jonathan Fahey: “These officers very well could have prevented a major mass shooting of multiple officers today.” Fox anchor Jon Scott remarked, “If you're going to a protest, you might take a sign, but why do you have to take a semiautomatic handgun and a couple of high-capacity magazines?” [Fox News, Fox Report with Jon Scott, 1/24/26]
    • Newsmax host Michael Savage said that Pretti “wanted to shoot an agent.” Savage claimed, “He wanted something to happen where he could have been a hero and shot an agent, and then they would put him up on a pedestal and he'd be on Good Morning America tomorrow.” [YouTube, Michael Savage, 1/25/26]
    • Fox contributor Joe Concha falsely claimed that Pretti pulled a gun: “And now here literally a guy pulls a gun on an ICE officer, he defends himself.” [Fox News, The Big Weekend Show, 1/24/26] 
    • Fellow Fox contributor Paul Mauro likewise falsely claimed that Pretti was shot because he “pulls out that 9 mm.” [Fox News, Fox News Live, 1/24/26]
    • Newsmax guest Dennis Kneale baselessly suggested Pretti “was armed and he was charging at officers from what I read.” He added, “If you don't want to have shootings involving ICE agents, how about you get the hell out of their way?” [Newsmax, Wake Up America Weekend, 1/25/26]
    • Heritage Foundation's Lora Ries on Fox: “It's very simple to not be shot by federal agents: Don't draw your gun on federal agents.” Ries continued, “Gov. Walz can't have it both ways — he can't demonize federal agents, call for resistance to federal agents and then be angry when some radical goon draws their gun on a federal agent and himself is shot.” [Fox News, Fox Report with Jon Scott, 1/24/26]
    • QAnon figure MJ Truth: “A man was shot and killed by ICE in Minneapolis after he attempted to pull a weapon on agents while they were detaining him. Do stupid shit, win stupid Prizes.” [Telegram, 1/24/26]