President Donald Trump said he held a “very good call” with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Monday, January 26, 2026, as tensions flared in Minneapolis after the January 24 fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, by a federal immigration officer.
Trump posted that Walz asked to “work together” and that he would have Tom Homan contact the governor while federal operations continue targeting what the administration calls criminal offenders. Walz’s office described the conversation as productive and said the governor pressed for impartial investigations and a reduction in the number of federal agents operating in the state.
Trump wrote that he and Walz were “on a similar wavelength” and that Homan would report directly to the White House as he manages on-the-ground activity. The president added that his focus is on individuals with criminal histories.
Walz’s office said Trump agreed to speak with the Department of Homeland Security about ensuring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension can conduct an independent probe, and to look at ways to scale back the federal footprint while coordinating with state authorities on suspects deemed violent.
Tom Homan’s role and the White House posture
On Monday afternoon, the White House said Tom Homan, the president’s border adviser and a former acting ICE director, would oversee immigration operations in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Homan would also coordinate with agencies on ongoing fraud inquiries linked by the administration to recent unrest.
The appointment places a high-profile enforcement figure at the center of a volatile situation, with Homan expected to set priorities, streamline command decisions and serve as a direct conduit to the president.
Homan was expected to arrive in Minnesota on Monday evening. The White House did not say whether his deployment reflects any loss of confidence in existing federal leadership in the region. City officials signaled they would seek clarity on identification standards, camera usage and evidence-sharing protocols as overlapping agencies operate on city streets during protests and targeted arrests.
What Walz says he wants from Washington
Walz’s office said the governor pressed three points in his call with Trump. First, that the BCA should lead an independent investigation into the Pretti shooting and other incidents involving federal officers, consistent with how officer-involved shootings are ordinarily reviewed in Minnesota.
Second, that the number of federal agents in the state should be reduced to lower the temperature while officials focus on violent offenders. Third, that coordination should improve so local police can secure scenes quickly and preserve evidence.
The governor’s office also noted that the Minnesota Department of Corrections complies with federal detainers and that there are no documented cases of the department releasing a state prisoner without offering to transfer custody. State leaders argued that better coordination, not wider deployments, is the best way to maintain public safety while respecting investigative norms.
Conflicting accounts in the Pretti case
Federal officials say Alex Pretti approached agents with a 9 mm handgun and resisted disarmament before he was shot on January 24. Witnesses have questioned whether Pretti posed an imminent threat, and community groups have urged the release of all available video.
The White House said the administration is “reviewing everything” surrounding the case, while declining to say whether the agent’s actions met policy standards.
The dispute echoes tensions after the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an immigration officer in Minneapolis. That incident sparked nightly demonstrations and pushed state and local officials to demand clearer rules of engagement and a defined channel for independent review.
In both cases, prosecutors have asked the public to submit photos and videos to help establish timelines and vantage points beyond official recordings.
