Gun groups split with Trump administration over Minnesota shooting

Published January 26, 2026 7:10pm ET



The death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis is opening a new fault line between President Donald Trump and his conservative base as gun rights groups denounce what they say are a series of anti-Second Amendment statements justifying the shooting.

The Trump administration has faced withering GOP criticism after officials argued that Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, presented a threat to immigration agents because he brought a lawfully obtained firearm to an ICE protest.

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