Biden condemns Trump admin after Minneapolis shootings: 'Violence has no place in the US'

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Former President Joe Biden issued a sharp public statement on Tuesday, January 27, condemning the federal government’s actions in Minneapolis following the fatal shootings of two American citizens.

In one of his strongest interventions since leaving office, Biden warned that violence has no place in the United States, “especially when it’s our own government targeting American citizens.”

The statement came amid continuing protests over federal immigration enforcement operations in the city. While Biden did not name President Donald Trump, he said Minnesotans have “suffered at the hands of this Administration,” drawing a clear line between the deaths and the policies driving the federal presence.

Joe Biden frames Minneapolis unrest as test of principles

Biden centered his remarks on constitutional rights and the conduct of federal agents. He framed the past month in Minneapolis as more than isolated incidents, calling them a test of American principles.

“We are not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street,” Biden wrote. He said that Americans should not be “brutalized for exercising their constitutional rights,” and warned against the erosion of Fourth Amendment protections.

Biden praised local residents for speaking out and supporting one another, saying Minnesotans have shown “what it is to be American” by holding the government accountable.

Joe Biden condemns deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti

Biden’s statement focused on the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed in separate encounters with federal agents this month.

Good was fatally shot in her car in Minneapolis on January 7 by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. On January 24, Pretti was killed after being shot by a Border Patrol agent during a separate incident.

Biden described both deaths as “senseless” and said that he and former First Lady Jill Biden were sending strength to the families and communities mourning the two residents.

Biden condemns Minneapolis violence as betrayal of American values

Biden posted his full remarks to X on Tuesday. The statement read:

"What has unfolded in Minneapolis this past month betrays our most basic values as Americans. We are not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street. We are not a nation that allows our citizens to be brutalized for exercising their constitutional rights," it stated. 

"We are not a nation that tramples the 4th Amendment and tolerates our neighbors being terrorized. The people of Minnesota have stood strong — helping community members in unimaginable circumstances, speaking out against injustice when they see it, and holding our government accountable to the people," it continued.

"Minnesotans have reminded us all what it is to be American, and they have suffered enough at the hands of this Administration. Violence and terror have no place in the United States of America, especially when it’s our own government targeting American citizens," the statement said.

"No single person can destroy what America stands for and believes in, not even a president, if we — all of America — stand up and speak out. We know who we are. It’s time to show the world. More importantly, it’s time to show ourselves," the letter added.

“Now, justice requires full, fair, and transparent investigations into the deaths of the two Americans who lost their lives in the city they called home. Jill and I are sending strength to the families and communities who love Alex Pretti and Renee Good as we all mourn their senseless deaths,” the letter ended.

Justice requires a full and fair investigation

Biden closed with a call for accountability, urging “full, fair, and transparent investigations” into both killings. He said that justice for Minneapolis began with clear answers and due process.

By tying the demand for investigations to national values, Biden aligned himself with state and local officials who have sought independent reviews of the use of lethal force. He argued that no single leader — “not even a President” — could override those values if the public insisted on them.