WATCH: 'You can't have guns. You can't walk in with guns,' Trump says of Alex Pretti killing [View all]
Source: PBS News
Jan 27, 2026 1:44 PM EST
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he did not think Alex Pretti, the second U.S. citizen to be killed by federal forces in Minnesota this month, was acting as an assassin.
"You can't have guns. You can't walk in with guns," the president said in response to a question from PBS News' Liz Landers, reiterating a talking point from the administration that Pretti should not have brought a legally carried handgun to the scene — a position that has infuriated gun rights advocates.
The president's response amounted to a softening of his administration's tone on the Jan. 24 shooting, after several of his top aides, including White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, described Pretti as a threat to federal agents.
Following Pretti's death, gun rights groups have released statements, saying that it's legal to carry firearms during protests or while exercising First Amendment rights.
Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-you-cant-have-guns-you-cant-walk-in-with-guns-trump-says-of-alex-pretti-killing
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