what did kristi noem say about alex pretti
Kristi Noem has repeatedly described Alex Pretti in extremely harsh, criminal terms in the days since his killing in Minneapolis.
What she actually said
From press conferences and TV hits, here are the key points of what Kristi Noem has said about Alex Pretti:
- She called Alex Pretti a “domestic terrorist” , aligning herself with the White House line that his actions amounted to domestic terrorism.
- She claimed he “committed an act of domestic terrorism” when he showed up at the scene where federal agents later shot him.
- She said Pretti “went and impeded their law enforcement operations, attacked those officers, had a weapon on him and multiple dozens of rounds of ammunition, wishing to inflict harm on these officers” and that he “brought a semiautomatic weapon to a riot.”
- She argued that “this constitutes a violent riot when someone shows up armed and uses those weapons against law enforcement” , adding that she was not aware of any “peaceful protester” who arrives with a firearm and ammunition instead of a sign.
- In one appearance, she said officers “acted in accordance with their training to protect the life of the officer and the safety of the public” and insisted DHS was following standard protocols while the investigation was ongoing.
- In later interviews, her language reportedly softened slightly, shifting from saying Pretti “attacked” officers to saying he was “laying hands on law enforcement,” but she did not walk back the broader framing that he was violent and dangerous.
Why this is controversial
Her comments sparked a major backlash because:
- Widely circulated video appears to show Alex Pretti disarmed before shots were fired , which critics say undercuts the “domestic terrorist” and “armed attacker” narrative.
- Other Trump officials, like Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, later backed away from her framing , saying they would not prejudge the facts and describing it more generally as a “very violent altercation” under investigation.
- Progressive outlets and commentators have accused Noem of smearing Pretti and prejudicing the public narrative before the investigation finishes.
Quick forum-style recap
Q: What did Kristi Noem say about Alex Pretti?
A: She labeled him a “domestic terrorist,” claimed he impeded and assaulted federal officers, said he brought a semiautomatic weapon and “multiple dozens of rounds” to a “riot,” and argued that made him part of a violent, not peaceful, protest.
Key factual beats
- Phrase used: “domestic terrorist,” “committed an act of domestic terrorism.”
- Allegations: impeded a law enforcement operation, assaulted officers, brought a semiautomatic weapon and many rounds of ammo, intended to harm officers.
- Framing: not a peaceful protester, but part of a violent riot.
- Ongoing dispute: video evidence and later statements from other officials have raised doubts about her characterization.
TL;DR: Kristi Noem has portrayed Alex Pretti as a violent, armed attacker and “domestic terrorist,” a description now at the center of a heated political and legal fight over what actually happened in Minneapolis.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.