Leavitt blames Democrats for tragedy, offers deal to withdraw Border Patrol

WASHINGTON, DC: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday, January 26, defended the administration’s actions in Minnesota while placing responsibility for the unrest on Democratic state and city leaders.

Speaking from the briefing room, Leavitt said the White House mourns the recent loss of life but argued that the violence followed weeks of what she described as “hostile resistance” to federal law enforcement after multiple deadly shootings involving immigration agents. 

“Nobody in the White House, including President Trump, wants to see people getting hurt or killed in America’s streets,” Leavitt said. She named recent victims, adding, “This includes Renee Good, Alex Pretti, the brave men and women of federal law enforcement, and the many Americans who have been victimized at the hands of illegal aliens."

Administration reviewing fatal shooting details

Leavitt confirmed that Saturday’s fatal shooting of Alex Pretti remains under active review by multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and Customs and Border Protection.

“The administration is reviewing everything with respect to the shooting, and we will let that investigation play out,” she said. She then widened the frame to address what she called the broader context. “But let’s be clear about the circumstances which led to that moment on Saturday,” Leavitt added.

Tragedy caused by deliberate hostile resistance

The Press Secretary argued that the incident did not occur in isolation. “This tragedy occurred as a result of a deliberate and hostile resistance by Democrat leaders in Minnesota for weeks,” Leavitt said.

She accused Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and other Democratic officials of “spreading lies” about federal officers. Leavitt described the agents as personnel “risking their lives daily to remove the worst criminal, illegal aliens from our streets,” and said local opposition to their presence has undermined public safety.

Agitators encouraged to stalk federal officers

Leavitt said state and city leaders had used their platforms to inflame tensions. She claimed they were “encouraging leftwing agitators to stalk, record, confront and obstruct federal officers who are just trying to lawfully perform their duties.”

According to the White House, that rhetoric “created dangerous situations” for both officers and civilians. The administration maintains that repeated public confrontations contributed to the volatile conditions surrounding the shooting.

Compliance ends Border Patrol deployment

Leavitt also outlined what she described as a path to de-escalation. She said President Trump spoke with Governor Walz on Monday morning and presented a “clear and simple path to restoring law and order.”

The administration’s conditions include transferring incarcerated “criminal illegal aliens” to federal custody, requiring local police to turn over arrested undocumented immigrants to ICE, and directing local departments to assist in apprehending those wanted for crimes. Press Secretary Leavitt said compliance would change the federal footprint: “If Governor Walz and Mayor Frey implement these common-sense, cooperative measures, Customs and Border Patrol will not be needed to support ICE on the ground in Minnesota.”

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