(MINNEAPOLIS) — President Donald Trump defended Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday and dismissed calls for her resignation as federal immigration operations in Minneapolis drew national scrutiny after two deaths this month.
Noem is doing a “very good job,” Trump said, and he answered “No” when reporters outside the White House asked whether she should step down.
Trump’s public backing came after a two-hour Fatal Minneapolis Shooting”>meeting Noem requested with him on Monday evening, amid reports that he was unhappy with how the administration handled social media messaging about the death of Alex Pretti.
Even with her position stable, the meeting signaled a shift in emphasis, with Noem’s focus moving from interior enforcement to southern border security, as the administration tries to contain political fallout from the Minneapolis incidents.
Backlash intensified after federal agents fatally shot Pretti in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, the second such incident in the city this month after Renee Good’s death by an ICE officer.
Videos show Pretti being pushed by an officer before agents descended on him.
Pretti held a phone and was not seen brandishing his licensed 9mm handgun, despite initial administration claims portraying him as an instigator.
Officials described Pretti as a lawful gun owner with no criminal record who was protesting immigration enforcement, while videos circulating online drove sharp disputes about what happened in the moments before he was shot.
Local anger over the deaths has folded into broader opposition to heightened enforcement activity, with city leaders and advocates linking the clashes to the scale and tactics of recent federal operations in Minneapolis.
Trump responded by announcing what he called a “big investigation” into Pretti’s death and said he would personally monitor it.
“I want to see the investigation. I’m going to be watching over it, and I want a very honorable and honest investigation. I have to see it myself,”
He also offered condolences directed at Pretti’s relatives. Trump said, “I love everybody. I love all of our people. I love his family. And it’s a very sad situation.”
To reinforce federal control over the response, Trump dispatched White House border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis to meet Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey.
Homan is now leading on-the-ground ICE operations in Minneapolis, replacing the prior setup, Trump said.
Trump said the meetings were “going well.”
The personnel shift extended beyond Homan’s role in Minneapolis. Acting Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, whom Noem and aide Corey Lewandowski elevated to lead controversial raids in cities including Minneapolis, is departing Minnesota.
Bovino is returning to his El Centro, California, sector role because of internal rifts, death threats and backlash tied to the raid tactics.
Federal activity in Minneapolis has centered on Operation Metro Surge, a two-month effort that involved 3,000 ICE and CBP agents arresting 3,400 people.
Those figures have become a focal point for critics who say the influx of federal agents strained community relationships, even as the administration argues its operations reflect its enforcement priorities.
Dozens of congressional Democrats, including House leaders, have co-sponsored an impeachment resolution against Noem and vowed to advance proceedings if Trump does not fire her.
Advocacy pressure has also sharpened in the wake of the shootings and the broader enforcement push.
Neera Tanden of the Center for American Progress demanded Trump “pull ICE out of Minneapolis and fire Kristi Noem.”
“pull ICE out of Minneapolis and fire Kristi Noem.”
Frey told Trump he wants Operation Metro Surge ended and cited benefits from immigrant communities.
Legal action has unfolded alongside the political escalation. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis, and St. Paul sued Noem and the Department of Homeland Security, claiming “tremendous damage” from the influx of agents.
Federal Judge Kate Menendez, a Biden appointee, declined Monday to issue a restraining order they sought against Noem and DHS and said she will deliberate further.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the suit “baseless.”
Noem is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3, 2026.
Trump used his defense of Noem to praise border security under her leadership, claiming “the border is totally secure” with no one coming through and contrasting it with the situation he said he inherited.
“the border is totally secure”
In the coming weeks, attention will stay on what Trump’s promised investigation examines, when it produces findings, and whether the administration announces any operational changes in Minneapolis as Noem prepares for her Senate appearance.
Trump Defends Noem as Homeland Security Chief Amid Minneapolis Probe
President Trump has reaffirmed his support for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem despite intense backlash over two fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis. While rejecting resignation calls, Trump announced a personal investigation into the death of Alex Pretti and dispatched Tom Homan to oversee local operations. This comes amid lawsuits from Minnesota officials and a pending Senate Judiciary Committee testimony scheduled for March 2026.
