Murdoch-Owned Newspapers Call for Pause in Trump Immigration Operations
In a significant development, two major newspapers owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch have publicly urged President Donald Trump to suspend his administration's aggressive immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota. This call comes in the wake of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, by federal officers in Minneapolis this past weekend.
Editorial Boards Issue Direct Appeals
The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed titled "Time for ICE to Pause in Minneapolis," which described the incident as "the worst incident to date in what is becoming a moral and political debacle" for Trump's presidency. The conservative paper's editorial board explicitly advised the president to "pause ICE enforcement in the Twin Cities to ease tensions and consider a less provocative strategy."
The editorial strongly criticized administration officials for their response to the tragedy, specifically naming Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Trump's deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. It condemned their attempts to label Pretti as a "domestic terrorist" without evidence, stating that "Ms. Noem and Mr. Miller aren't credible spokesmen" and that their approach focuses more on political provocation than persuasion.
Political Consequences Highlighted
The Journal warned that the administration's current approach risks turning immigration from a political strength into a liability for Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The editorial pointed to what it called "Miller's mass deportation methods" and referenced the detention of a five-year-old boy as examples of enforcement actions that could alienate voters.
"Americans don't want law enforcement shooting people in the street or arresting five-year-old boys," the editorial stated. "The President who said you have to have a heart in enforcement ought to show some."
New York Post Echoes Concerns
The New York Post joined in criticizing the administration's messaging strategy, noting that eyewitness video evidence directly contradicts official claims that Pretti "brandished" a firearm at federal agents. The newspaper's editorial board wrote: "The alacritous and misleading rhetoric coming out of the administration needs to stop: Any reasonable person who has watched the videos clearly knows by now he was not 'waving his gun around.'"
The Post also cautioned Trump against invoking the Insurrection Act, a step the president has previously threatened, warning that such a move "would backfire" politically. Instead, the editorial urged: "Team Trump needs to cool things down, and let the American public see calm leadership."
Broader Support Eroding
Both publications emphasized that public support for the administration's immigration strategy appears to be diminishing. The Post noted that "however noble the mission is to rid the country of the 'worst of the worst,' the broad support for it is now ebbing fast."
In a direct appeal to the president, the Post editorial concluded: "Mr. President, the American people didn't vote for these scenes and you can't continue to order them to not believe their lying eyes."
Trump's Response and Future Actions
President Trump has thus far refrained from criticizing federal agents' actions, instead blaming Democratic politicians and the victim himself for the weekend's violence. However, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published Sunday afternoon, Trump left open the possibility that immigration enforcement officials might eventually withdraw from Minneapolis.
"At some point we will leave. We've done, they've done a phenomenal job," the president stated, suggesting a potential shift in strategy despite his continued defense of current operations.
The coordinated editorial stance from these two influential Murdoch-owned publications represents a notable moment of conservative media pressure on the Trump administration's immigration policies, particularly regarding enforcement tactics that have resulted in civilian fatalities and growing public concern.
