Trump’s six-words show he’s cracking under the strain of ICE raids | US | News
US President Donald Trump sensationally fired Minneapolis border chief Gregory Bovino after he said he wanted to “massacre law enforcement” in the fatal shooting of anti-ICE nurse Alex Pretti. Pretti’s death was the second in as many weeks in which protesters were killed during clashes with Federal agents in the city.
While Trump fired Bovino, he also praised the progress he had made with the outspoken Democratic Minneapolis mayor, a sign that his previous hard-line rhetoric on clashes between protesters and ICE agents was faltering. On Monday night, Trump posted on his Truth Social account that he had a phone call with Democratic Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey.
“A lot of progress is being made!” He explained it in six words. “Tom Homan will meet with him tomorrow to continue the discussion.”
Homan, the administration’s border czar, is traveling to Minnesota to meet with state and local officials. Frey is one of the local and state officials who have been harshest in their criticism of federal immigration enforcement in the city.
Border Patrol commander’s over-the-top response criticized
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting of Alex Pretti by federal law enforcement, Border Patrol commander Bovino’s comments and actions were characteristically over-the-top.
He said Pretti appeared to want to “massacre law enforcement.” His agents quickly distributed a photo of Pretti’s gun, implying that this alone was grounds for the use of deadly force. Local law enforcement officials accused Bovino’s Border Patrol agents of failing to obtain evidence and refusing to cooperate with the investigation into the shooting.
Especially, Donald Trump He never repeated Bovino’s rhetoric, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered only lukewarm praise for the man who has become the face of federal immigration enforcement efforts in Minneapolis.
As with the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis weeks earlier, the president may have felt that his officials’ initial message was out of step with public opinion and contradicted by ample video evidence.
Bovino reassigned as White House shifts intervention strategy
Bovino has now been reassigned to other duties, according to US media partner CBS News. His exit comes as the White House is changing how it responds to the backlash over Pretti’s death; this included criticism not only from the president’s political opponents, but also from law enforcement and his own party.
Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan currently handles all aspects of the Minnesota operation and reports directly to the president. While Homan is still a defender of Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies, he has more experience navigating American politics and is more measured in his public statements.
The conflict and conflict engulfing Minneapolis may not be over yet, but with Bovino sidelined, the administration may be looking for a way to de-escalate tensions.
Noem to testify before Senate on calls to resign
In another development that illustrates the pressure the Trump administration is now facing, a spokesman for Republican senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee in March.
Speaking to BBC’s US partner CBS News, the spokesperson said, “Noem is expected to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3 for a single round of questioning, each senator will be given 10 minutes for questions.”
Noem’s statement comes amid growing calls from Democrats for her to resign following two high-profile shootings of Americans by federal immigration agents in Minnesota this month.
