Trump Faces Widespread Condemnation for Attacking Deceased Nurse on Social Media
President Donald Trump is facing intense criticism from across the political spectrum following a middle-of-the-night social media post in which he attacked Alex Pretti, a nurse who was shot and killed by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis earlier this month. The president's comments, posted on Truth Social at 1:26 a.m. ET, have been described as heartless and depraved by numerous observers and advocacy groups.
Controversial Social Media Post Targets Victim's Character
In his lengthy post, Trump referred to Pretti as an "agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist" and declared that "Alex Pretti's stock has gone way down" following the release of video footage from an encounter that occurred 11 days before the fatal shooting. The video shows Pretti in a heated exchange with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, during which he spits at their vehicle and kicks out a taillight before officers use tear gas and depart the scene.
"It was quite a display of abuse and anger, for all to see, crazed and out of control," Trump wrote in his post. "The ICE Officer was calm and cool, not an easy thing to be under those circumstances! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN."
Family Attorney Rejects Attempt to Justify Fatal Shooting
Steve Schleicher, an attorney representing Pretti's family, forcefully rejected any suggestion that the earlier encounter justified the subsequent shooting. In comments to the Associated Press, Schleicher emphasized that the events were separated by a full week and that Pretti posed no threat when he was killed.
"A week before Alex was gunned down in the street — despite posing no threat to anyone — he was violently assaulted by a group of ICE agents," Schleicher told the news agency. "Nothing that happened a full week before could possibly have justified Alex's killing at the hands of ICE on Jan 24."
Pattern of Victim-Blaming Emerges in Federal Shootings
The incident marks the second time this month that Trump has publicly attacked an American citizen shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis. Earlier in January, officers fatally shot Renee Good in her vehicle, after which Trump described her as "obviously, a professional agitator" who "behaved horribly."
These two killings have triggered:
- Nationwide protests against federal immigration enforcement
- Calls for an "ICE Out" national strike scheduled for January 30
- Increased scrutiny of federal agents' use of force in civilian encounters
Social Media Backlash Highlights Public Outrage
The response on social media platform X has been overwhelmingly critical of the president's latest comments. Numerous users expressed outrage at what they perceive as insensitive victim-blaming from the nation's highest office.
One user wrote: "The most heartless person in America and the president really shouldn't be the same guy." Another commented: "we watched the federal government execute someone live on camera and the president seems joyous to report that his, 'stock has gone way down'. Can you imagine how the Pretti family feels?"
Additional criticisms included:
- Accusations that Trump was "defaming a dead man"
- Concerns about the psychological impact on Pretti's family
- Questions about the appropriateness of presidential commentary on ongoing investigations
- References to Trump's "sick and depraved" behavior
The controversy continues to develop as advocacy groups prepare for nationwide demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement practices, with many critics arguing that the president's comments represent a disturbing pattern of blaming victims rather than addressing systemic issues within federal law enforcement agencies.
