Former NRA spokeswoman raises questions about lethal force in ICE shooting
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Former National Rifle Association (NRA) spokeswoman Dana Loesch fielded questions about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in an interview Monday, questioning whether lethal force was appropriate and urging the Trump administration to be more careful with its language.
“My first thought was that the administration needed to be a little careful with the language, and I felt like the language was incredibly important,” Loesch said during an interview on “CBS Mornings.” “We have a duty to be very, very careful about the language we use. So I ask the Secretary this: [Kristi] “Noem and others should be aware of this because approaching law enforcement with a firearm is not an indication of bad faith and is not a crime.”
Loesch stated that he attended protests while openly carrying a firearm and was never shot at or involved in any fights, stating that it was against the law to obstruct law enforcement operations.
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“CBS Mornings” talks with former NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch about the deadly shooting in Minneapolis on Jan. 26, 2026. (CBS/CBS Mornings)
Loesch said his first thought was about what led to the confrontation between ICE agents and Pretti. Noem claimed Pretti appeared over the weekendarrived at the scene to inflict maximum harm on individuals and kill law enforcement officers,” he said, but publicly released video of the incident shows him approaching federal civil servants He was holding what appeared to be his phone and was filming agents knocking a female agitator to the ground.
Loesch wondered whether lethal force was necessary in Pretti’s case.
“When I watch this, I have questions. Why was lethal force needed? I want to know what the officers were thinking because they obviously thought their lives were in danger. None of us were there in the few seconds it happened, so I think we should allow the investigation to happen there,” Loesch said.
CBS host Vladimir Druthiers noted that he wrote on his Substack that the videos showed the gun being removed from Pretti’s waistband.
“He implies that,” Loesch replied.
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A Border Patrol member fires pepper spray at observers after a traffic accident on Blaisdell Boulevard on Jan. 21, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minn. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
A representative from U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. As the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations continue across the country, federal agents from ICE and Border Patrol are under intense scrutiny.
State officials say Pretti is a Legal Transport Permit (PTC)and court records obtained by Fox News Digital show he has no criminal record.
The Minneapolis shooting sparked a clash between gun rights groups; Advocates for legal rights to carry and protest have faced warnings about increased anti-law enforcement rhetoric.
“Every peaceful Minnesotan has the right to keep and bear arms – whether participating in protests, acting as an observer or Exercising First Amendment rights. These rights are not taken away when someone is legally armed, and these rights must always be respected and protected,” the Minnesota Gun Owners Group wrote in a statement.
The statement also said the attack was “deeply concerning” and called for a transparent investigation.
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Protesters against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) march through the streets of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 25, 2026. (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)
The National Rifle Association (NRA) released a statement on social media accusing Democratic leaders in Minnesota of “incitement.”[ing] violence against law enforcement” and urges people to lower their fevers amid ongoing unrest.
Loesch also said during the CBS interview that the scenes in Minneapolis were unhelpfully created by leaders who “will not back down on their rhetoric and tell people let’s not obstruct investigations, let’s protest on the sidewalk or near it, but let’s not obstruct it.”
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Fox News’ Alexandra Koch, Alex Miller and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
