A fatal shooting in Minneapolis has ignited a firestorm within Republican ranks, with Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina demanding the removal of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over her handling of the incident’s aftermath.
On Tuesday, Tillis spoke to reporters on Capitol Hill, criticizing Noem’s public statements following the shooting of protester Alex Pretti during an altercation. A DHS report to Congress, released the same day, detailed the encounter, while the White House distanced President Trump from related comments made by aide Stephen Miller on Monday.
The incident began during an enforcement operation when agents forced two non-compliant women off the road, according to the DHS account relayed by KSTP. When they refused to move, an officer pushed them aside, prompting one woman to run to Pretti. The situation escalated as agents attempted to clear the road, leading to a tragic outcome.
The DHS report states that after deploying pepper spray on Pretti and the woman, agents tried to take him into custody. A struggle ensued, during which a Border Patrol agent shouted, “He’s got a gun!” repeatedly, before shots were fired from two different weapons, a Glock 19 and a Glock 47, Breitbart News reported.
Notably, neither the DHS report nor witnesses indicated that Pretti, who held a concealed carry permit, reached for his firearm during the scuffle. The report also failed to clarify whether his weapon was secured by agents before the shots were fired.
Critics argue that the real controversy lies not just in the shooting, but in the rushed narrative that followed. Secretary Noem, echoing talking points from White House aide Stephen Miller, quickly labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist” intent on causing “maximum damage” to federal agents. Such premature conclusions, made before a formal incident report was even assembled, have drawn sharp rebuke.
Tillis didn’t mince words when addressing Noem’s conduct, calling it “amateur-ish” and a disservice to the administration’s broader goals. “It’s just amateur-ish. It’s terrible. It’s making the president look bad on policy that he won on,” he told reporters, pointing to how this misstep distracts from a strong immigration message.
Noem’s press conference remarks have only fueled the fire, painting a picture of intent that the facts don’t yet support. She stated, “This looks like a situation where an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement.” That’s a bold claim when the DHS report itself offers no evidence of such motives.
Let’s be clear: jumping the gun with inflammatory labels isn’t leadership—it’s a liability. When unelected officials spin narratives before the ink on a report is dry, it undermines trust in law enforcement and risks inflaming already tense situations. This isn’t about coddling anyone; it’s about sticking to facts over feelings.
Tillis has communicated his concerns directly to the White House, urging that Noem’s removal be handled as a management decision rather than a drawn-out political spectacle. He believes she’s proven incapable of leading DHS effectively, especially in high-stakes scenarios like this.
Look at the broader implications here. Mishandling public messaging after a deadly encounter doesn’t just tarnish reputations; it puts both federal officers and citizens at greater risk by escalating tensions unnecessarily. Noem’s approach, as Tillis sees it, fails the basic test of de-escalation.
There’s a right way to handle border security and enforcement operations, and it starts with accountability at the top. Rushing to judgment with loaded terms like “terrorist” before the dust settles isn’t just sloppy—it’s dangerous. It shifts focus from solving real policy challenges to cleaning up self-inflicted PR messes.
The White House has already taken steps to separate President Trump from Miller’s statements, a move that suggests internal recognition of the misstep. But distancing alone doesn’t fix the underlying issue of leadership at DHS.
Tillis is right to demand better, not out of spite, but out of a desire to see the administration succeed on its core promises. Strong borders and safe communities aren’t achieved through hasty soundbites—they require steady hands and clear heads, qualities Noem has yet to demonstrate in this crisis.
At the end of the day, this tragedy in Minneapolis isn’t just about one incident; it’s a wake-up call for how DHS communicates and operates. If the department can’t get ahead of its own narrative with facts, not fiction, then changes at the top aren’t just warranted—they’re overdue.
