Former Superman actor Dean Cain publicly defended the federal agents involved in the fatal shooting of VA nurse Alex Pretti in Minnesota over the weekend, saying Pretti made a serious mistake by engaging law enforcement and warning against inflammatory rhetoric on both sides.
Cain, a staunch conservative who joined Immigration and Customs Enforcement last year, spoke Monday with TMZ’s Harvey Levin and Charles Latibeaudiere about the shooting, which has sparked widespread reaction across Minnesota and beyond. Cain said it is difficult for outsiders to judge split-second decisions made by officers in tense situations.
“Unless you’re there in the moment with the agents, it’s hard to understand,” Cain said when asked whether the agents used appropriate force. He noted that obstructing or impeding federal officers in the performance of their duties can constitute a felony.
“If someone is committing a felony — which would be obstructing law enforcement, ICE, federal agents from doing their job — that’s a felony,” Cain said, adding that the officers may have been attempting to take Pretti down at that point.
Cain also pushed back on portrayals of Pretti as a peaceful demonstrator, saying it was “a very bad idea to engage physically with federal law enforcement while armed.” He said Pretti was not simply standing by as a protester when the confrontation occurred.
The discussion grew tense when Cain accused Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of encouraging residents to confront federal officers. Levin immediately challenged that claim.
“Just so you know, I just want to set the record straight here,” Levin said. “I have never heard the mayor or the governor say ‘fight them in the streets.’”
Cain insisted otherwise, saying he had seen clips that he believed supported his claim and told Levin to have his staff look into it.
Levin later asked Cain about the rhetoric from senior Trump administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, former Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, and top adviser Stephen Miller, who labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist” shortly after the shooting.
Cain said he was not familiar with those specific statements and suggested that such language could worsen tensions.
“Honestly, I’m not aware of that rhetoric, and it doesn’t sound like it’s helping tamp down the temperature,” Cain said. He added that he did not know what information officials were relying on and said he personally had not seen evidence of Pretti brandishing a weapon in the videos he viewed.
“I don’t agree with overblown rhetoric on either side,” Cain said.
Cain said he believes strongly in Noem and noted that he plans to work under her leadership. However, he emphasized the need for restraint in public statements while investigations are ongoing.
Cain’s comments carry added weight given his law enforcement background. He serves as a deputy sheriff and reserve police officer in Idaho. Last summer, he announced that he was joining ICE after the agency launched a major hiring initiative that included a signing bonus of up to $50,000 and other incentives.
His decision to join ICE drew sharp criticism and ridicule from left-leaning figures. Television host John Oliver mocked Cain’s career, and actor John Leguizamo joked that Cain’s pronouns are “has, been.”
Cain is best known for his role as Clark Kent and Superman opposite Teri Hatcher’s Lois Lane on the television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Despite the backlash, Cain has remained outspoken in his support of immigration enforcement and law enforcement officers, while urging cooler heads and careful language as the Minnesota case continues to unfold.
