Comedian Andrew Schulz Denounces Trump Administration's Handling of Minneapolis Shooting
Comedian and podcaster Andrew Schulz has issued a scathing critique of former President Donald Trump and his administration's response to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. During the latest episode of his popular "Flagrant" podcast, Schulz described the administration's attempts to characterize the incident as "f**king disgusting."
Schulz's Blunt Assessment of the Incident
"Let's talk about what happened in Minneapolis," Schulz began on Wednesday's episode. He continued with a direct accusation: "ICE murdered an American citizen in cold blood and then the Trump administration called him a domestic terrorist. That's it. Like, plain and simple. I see the administration trying to spin it, and it's fucking disgusting."
While Schulz mistakenly identified the agents involved as Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers rather than U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel, his broader criticism of the administration's response remained pointed and substantive.
Eyewitness Accounts and Administration Response
Multiple eyewitness videos from the Minneapolis incident appear to show Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen who worked as an intensive care nurse, filming an altercation involving CBP agents before several agents wrestled him to the ground, disarmed him, and ultimately killed him.
The Trump administration quickly framed Saturday's shooting in a particular light. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller labeled Pretti a "would-be assassin" who allegedly "tried to murder federal agents" before his death. Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem characterized Pretti's actions as "domestic terrorism" prior to the shooting.
Schulz's Critique of the Administration's Approach
"They didn't even have a moment where they're like, 'Hey, we're reviewing the footage, we're going to try to see what's really happening,'" Schulz observed about the administration's immediate response.
He elaborated further: "All of them, Trump and all the cronies, put out collective statements that immediately blamed an American citizen that was exercising his First and Second Amendment rights. Right? He has the right to protest. He has the right to carry a firearm." Pretti was indeed lawfully carrying a gun before being disarmed and fatally shot.
Changing Narratives and Political Context
"There's no question about this whatsoever, and the administration immediately comes out and they try to gaslight the public, which you cannot do when we have 15 different videos of what happened," Schulz emphasized regarding the substantial eyewitness footage available.
Notably, Miller later adjusted his position with a Tuesday statement, claiming his initial rhetoric was "based on reports" provided to Homeland Security by Customs and Border Protection. He added that the White House was "evaluating" why agents "may not have been following" proper protocol.
Schulz's Political Evolution and Final Thoughts
Schulz acknowledged on his podcast that he and his co-hosts interviewed Trump ahead of the 2024 election, and that many listeners aware of this history might disregard his perspective on the increasingly volatile political climate under Trump's administration.
Nevertheless, Schulz concluded with conviction: "I don't think any of us are having this conversation to, like, curry any goodwill or get people to like us or something like that. This is something that is undeniably abhorrent and should be called out. Simple as that. It's disgusting."
The comedian's comments highlight ongoing tensions surrounding law enforcement interactions with citizens and the political framing of such incidents, particularly within the context of the Trump administration's approach to civil liberties and public accountability.
