Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is urging supporters of President Trump to reassess their reactions to a recent shooting in Minnesota involving a federal immigration agent, warning against reflexive partisan loyalty and calling for a more consistent defense of constitutional rights.
In a post shared on X, Greene reaffirmed her support for law enforcement and border security while also expressing concern about how officials have framed the incident. The shooting involved 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was armed but, according to critics of the government’s account, may not have posed an immediate threat to federal agents.
Greene made clear that her position does not weaken her stance on immigration enforcement. “I unapologetically believe in border security and deporting criminal illegal aliens and I support law enforcement. However, I also unapologetically support the 2nd amendment,” she wrote. She added, “Legally carrying a firearm is not the same as brandishing a firearm.”
She went on to defend the right to document law enforcement activity and to protest peacefully. “I support American’s 1st and 4th amendment rights,” Greene wrote. “There is nothing wrong with legally peacefully protesting and videoing.”
The Trump administration has defended the agent involved in the shooting, stating that the officer fired “defensive shots” after encountering Pretti, who was carrying a gun later recovered by authorities. Critics, however, have pointed to video footage that appears to show Pretti recording ICE officers with his phone before the situation escalated, raising questions about whether the level of force used was justified.
President Trump addressed the incident on Truth Social, sharing an image of the firearm allegedly found on Pretti. “This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!) and ready to go,” Trump wrote.
He also questioned why local law enforcement was not more involved, adding, “What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE officers? Did the Mayor and Governor call them off? It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves. Not an easy thing to do!”
Greene’s comments went further by asking MAGA supporters to consider how they would react if a similar scenario unfolded under a Democratic administration. She referenced the federal response to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and accused the Biden administration of targeting supporters too aggressively.
“MAGA, consider it like this. We lost our minds when we watched Biden’s FBI track down and aggressively carry out home invasions and arrest on peaceful J6’ers who walked in the Capitol through open doors,” she wrote.
She then offered a lengthy hypothetical scenario meant to mirror the Minnesota incident, concluding with the question, “What would have been our reaction?”
Greene closed her remarks with a broader warning about political polarization. “Both sides need to take off their political blinders,” she said. “You are all being incited into civil war, yet none of it solves any of the real problems that we all face, and tragically people are dying.”