Tucker Carlson said Wednesday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s public comments about Alex Pretti, the man shot and killed by federal authorities in Minneapolis, were “outrageous,” joining a growing chorus of criticism over how the Trump administration has handled messaging surrounding the incident.
Carlson made the remarks during an episode of The Tucker Carlson Show, where he was joined by journalist Michael Shellenberger. The two discussed the continuing unrest in Minneapolis following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration authorities, incidents that have sparked protests and political fallout.
“I think the Trump administration is in a very tough spot right now. I think they know they are,” Carlson said, arguing that immigration enforcement has proven to be more complicated than the administration may have anticipated. He noted that the shooting of Pretti triggered backlash not only from Democrats, but also from Republicans and Second Amendment advocates who objected to officials suggesting Pretti was a threat simply because he was armed.
Shellenberger told Carlson that while the situation has been mishandled, the administration did take at least one constructive step by reassigning Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino out of Minneapolis.
“I thought they made a good step forward with trying to put someone with a lot more experience in charge,” Shellenberger said. He then turned his criticism directly toward Noem.
“It was just outrageous that the secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, just got up there and trashed Alex Pretti,” Shellenberger said.
Carlson immediately agreed. “It’s unbelievable. I agree,” he said.
Shellenberger went further, saying Noem’s statements were not just incorrect but deeply troubling in tone. “Obviously what she was saying was false and I don’t understand it,” he said. “I found it dehumanizing and gross.”
“Yes, I agree,” Carlson replied.
Shellenberger added that both Good and Pretti should have been treated as victims rather than villains. “Good and Pretti are victims of the left and that should have been what they said,” he argued.
Carlson then broadened the discussion, emphasizing the need for humility and restraint when public officials address deaths involving law enforcement.
“All of us should have reverence in the face of death,” Carlson said. “We didn’t create life, we can’t, we’re not capable of it and when it ends, I don’t care who it is, we have to bow before the mystery of death and take it seriously.”
He warned against mocking or dismissing the dead, even in politically charged situations. “You can never mock someone,” Carlson said. “Even if it’s your enemy, you have to take it seriously.”
Following Pretti’s death, Noem claimed he brandished a firearm and attacked officers, statements that have been widely questioned after video footage surfaced suggesting that was not the case. The discrepancy between the official narrative and available video has fueled skepticism and intensified criticism.
An Axios report published this week suggested there is internal disagreement within the White House over how the administration responded publicly to Pretti’s shooting. According to people familiar with the situation, tensions have centered in part on Noem’s comments and the broader communications strategy.
Axios reported that Noem told someone that she had acted under direct instruction. “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done at the direction of the president and Stephen [Miller],” she reportedly said.
The episode has highlighted the political and moral risks of rushing to judgment in high-profile law enforcement incidents, even as the administration continues to defend its broader immigration agenda.
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