WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump on Monday appeared to start taking steps to lower the temperature caused by his siege of Minneapolis ― following days and weeks of actively inciting tensions between immigration agents and locals to the boiling point, and demonizing two residents killed by federal forces.
The substance of the apparent pivot, highlighted by the forthcoming exit of an aggressive Border Patrol commander from the city, is limited. Trump’s Justice Department is still fighting a state lawsuit trying to expel immigration agents from the city, while Trump’s agencies have shown zero interest in seriously investigating the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Trump announced he was sending White House aide Tom Homan to the city to control the activities of thousands of agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, whose presence there has led to the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens thus far this month.
“I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight. He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me,” Trump posted on his social media platform Monday morning.
