Donald Trump Slammed For 'Tone Deaf' NFL Post After Alex Pretti Shooting

Donald Trump has been called out over his post about the NFL after Alex Pretti was shot dead by federal ICE agents.

Pretti, 37, who was an NCU nurse, was fatally shot on a number of occasions by an Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Saturday.

Video footage shows him walking towards an ICE agent with his phone in hand before being sprayed with a chemical irritant.

According to witnesses, Pretti then attempted to help another bystander, who had also been sprayed, back to their feet, before he was wrestled to the ground by ICE agents and shot multiple times.

Members of the Trump administration have attempted to defend the killing, citing that Pretti was in possession of a handgun and claiming that he 'arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement'.

While a handgun was retrieved from Pretti's waistband immediately before the shooting, former police trainer John Cohen has told ABC News that there is 'nothing in the video evidence that we've seen' to suggest that Pretti 'arrived at that location with the intent to shoot those border patrol officers'.

Trump himself, meanwhile, told The Wall Street Journal that his administration are 'reviewing everything' in relation to the shooting, and has thus far refused to support the federal officers over their versions of events.

Ahead of their NBA match against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves held a moment of silence in Pretti's memory.

BREAKING: Timberwolves held a moment of silence for Alex Pretti.

The second it ended, the arena erupted into loud “F*ck ICE!” chants. pic.twitter.com/OEJadliHon

— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) January 26, 2026

The match was originally due to be played on Saturday, but was rescheduled to the following day following the fatal shooting of Pretti.

On Truth Social, his own social media platform, Trump has posted many lengthy statements about Pretti's shooting, including an attack on Minnesota governor Tim Walz and mayor Jacob Frey.

He also took time out to criticise the NFL's dynamic kick-off rule, which relates to how the players line up before the first play begins.

"I can't watch the new NFL Kickoff," Trump wrote. "Like many others, I just turn my head.

"Who has the right to make such a change? So disparaging to the game! The original was Big Time, Strong, Glamorous, and Exciting.

"The ridiculous new Kickoff Rule takes away the prestige and power of the game. I hope College Football doesn't follow suit!"