American journalist Megyn Kelly has sparked a fresh wave of backlash after saying she does not feel sympathy for Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old ICU nurse fatally shot by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her remarks, delivered on her SiriusXM podcast on Monday, landed as bystander video from the scene continued to circulate and intensify scrutiny of the shooting.
Kelly argued that protests must be conducted peacefully and without interfering with officers, warning that physical confrontation with Border Patrol or ICE agents can rapidly escalate into life-threatening situations. 'I know I'm supposed to feel sorry for Alex Pretti, but I don't,' she said, adding that those who obstruct law enforcement assume responsibility for the risks that follow.
Kelly's Comments and the 'Interference' Argument
On The Megyn Kelly Show, Kelly framed the incident as a cautionary tale about resisting arrest and disrupting operations. She said that laying hands on a police officer or federal agent is a felony and that even actions resembling resistance can place people in 'serious trouble'. While acknowledging that officers do not have a right to shoot someone, she said such behaviour can reasonably heighten fear for officer safety.
Kelly described Pretti as part of a group of 'organized agitators' who were 'there being subversive', asserting that he was not attempting to assist law enforcement. She claimed he was present to cause disruption and that the danger he courted 'came back on him'.
What the Minneapolis Shooting Video Shows
Bystander footage has become central to the public debate. Video from the street shows Pretti standing near federal agents during the immigration enforcement operation, holding what appears to be a mobile phone as he films moments before the confrontation. In the seconds leading up to the shooting, the footage does not show Pretti pointing a weapon at officers.
This is by far the best video I've seen of the border patrol shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis today.
— Ang (@ALetsGoooo) January 25, 2026
I put the 👁️👁️ emojis on top
The suspect's firearm was a SIG Sauer P320 AXG Combat, a high-capacity 9mm with a threaded barrel, extended 21 round mag and a SIG Romeo optic.... pic.twitter.com/WWjfUWzTqm
Additional angles capture several federal agents rushing Pretti, forcing him to the ground and restraining him. In one clip, an officer appears to remove a handgun from Pretti's waistband while he is already pinned on the pavement and surrounded by agents.
Shots then ring out, with an agent firing multiple rounds while Pretti remains on the ground. The sequence has raised questions from critics and local officials about whether he posed an immediate threat at the moment lethal force was used.
Federal Review and Political Fallout
The White House has moved to cool tensions following the Minneapolis shooting. Speaking with The Wall Street Journal, President Trump signalled a review of the incident and declined to prejudge whether the agent involved acted appropriately. Officials have said a determination will be made after investigators review the facts.
The administration has also sought to distance the president from early claims by senior aides who labelled Pretti a 'domestic terrorist', emphasising instead a fact-based inquiry. In a notable shake-up, Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who oversaw the Minneapolis operation and publicly defended agents' conduct, is expected to be reassigned and leave the city this week, according to administration sources.
Trump has announced that border czar Tom Homan will be dispatched to Minnesota to oversee the situation directly, bypassing the normal chain of command and sidelining both Bovino and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from day-to-day control of the operation.
Public Reaction and Ongoing Scrutiny
Kelly's comments have drawn sharp criticism online, with opponents accusing her of dismissing legitimate concerns about the use of force. Supporters, meanwhile, argue she is underscoring the legal risks of interfering with law enforcement during volatile operations.
As the federal review continues, attention remains fixed on the Minneapolis shooting video, witness accounts and official findings. The Post has sought comment from the Pretti family as investigators work to determine whether deadly force was justified under the circumstances.
