White House Distances Trump From Alex Pretti ‘Domestic Terrorist’ SmearWhile senior Trump administration officials initially rushed to smear Alex Pretti as a "domestic terrorist" when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents fatally shot him while he observed their activities in Minneapolis on Saturday, now it seems they’re not so sure.“I have not heard the president characterize Mr. Pretti in that way,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday.That’s a clear break from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and top Trump adviser Stephen Miller, who both separately and baselessly claimed after Pretti’s death that his conduct constituted terrorism.“A domestic terrorist tried to assassinate federal law enforcement," said Miller, contradicting clear video evidence that shows Pretti was holding a phone at the time he was shot and killed.Noem, meanwhile, claimed that "when you perpetuate violence against a government because of ideological reasons and for reasons to resist and perpetuate violence, that is the definition of domestic terrorism."The government has offered no evidence Pretti, a 37-year-old VA nurse, was “perpetuating violence,” as Noem claimed.At the press briefing, Leavitt also ducked a question when asked if Miller would be apologizing to Pretti's family for calling him an “assassin.” ABC: Noem said Pretti committed an act of domestic terrorism. Stephen Miller labeled him a domestic terrorist. Does the president agree?LEAVITT: I have not heard the president characterize Mr Pretti in that way pic.twitter.com/qsGs8MBPvM— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 26, 2026See All UpdatesClose