Trump and Walz discuss immigration enforcement in Minneapolis
President Donald Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had a “productive” phone conversation about immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said he still has confidence in Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and will not ask her to resign following personnel changes at the federal post in Minnesota.
“I think she’s done a very good job. I think she’s doing a very good job. The border is completely secure,” President Trump said on Tuesday, January 27, as he left the White House for Iowa to deliver a speech on the economy.
Noem has come under increasing scrutiny after federal authorities shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Preti in Minneapolis on January 24. President Trump on Monday, January 26, appointed White House Border Czar Tom Homan to lead immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota. Noem Bovino and the administration’s controversial Border Patrol commander, Gregory Bovino, previously led such efforts.
Asked by reporters whether Noem would resign from his Cabinet post, President Trump answered, “No.”
The New York Times reported that Trump and Noem met for two hours on January 26, amid growing backlash in the wake of the Preti shooting. Several Democratic lawmakers are calling for Noem’s impeachment.
President Trump: ‘You can’t have a gun’ on Alex Preti shooting
The shooting occurred less than three weeks after ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, inside a car she was using to stop an ICE operation in Minneapolis.
As he left the White House, President Trump referred to the ongoing investigation into Preti’s death when asked if the shooting was justified.
President Trump said, “We’re conducting a massive investigation. I want to see how that investigation goes.” “I’m going to watch it. I want a very honorable and honest investigation. I’ll have to see it myself.”
But the president also opposed Mr. Preti being armed as federal authorities confronted him.
President Trump said, “You can’t have a gun. You can’t walk in with a gun. You can’t do that. It’s very unfortunate.”
A gun was recovered from Preeti, but she did not brandish it as federal authorities confronted her. Preeti obtained the gun legally.
Trump and the Republican Party have strongly advocated Second Amendment rights, including the right to bear arms in public.
White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who accompanied President Trump on his trip to Iowa, called Preti a “potential assassin” and a “domestic terrorist” shortly after the shooting. Noem also referred to Preti’s actions as domestic terrorism.
The White House on Monday sought to distance itself from those comments, refusing to draw any public conclusions until the investigation is complete.
President Trump said he was “watching the entire situation closely.” “I love everyone. I love all of our people. I love his family. And this is a very sad situation.”
X Contact Joey Garrison at @joeygarrison.
