Former President Bill Clinton weighed in Sunday on the latest fatal shooting in Minneapolis involving federal immigration agents, accusing the Trump administration of telling Americans “not to believe what we’ve seen.” Yes, because when chaos erupts, it’s always a good time for a Clinton lecture on truth and transparency.
The incident involved 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents while recording federal immigration operations in Minneapolis. Pretti, an ICU nurse, appeared to be trying to assist a woman who had been knocked down when agents used an irritant. He was pushed to the ground and beaten, and video reportedly showed an agent pulling a gun from Pretti’s waistband before other agents fired several shots, killing him.
The shooting comes amid unrest over another ICE-related killing in the city earlier this month, when Renee Nicole Good was shot during a separate confrontation.
Clinton said the events unfolding in Minneapolis and elsewhere are scenes he “never thought would take place in America,” claiming that people, including children, have been taken from homes, workplaces, and streets by masked federal agents. He also argued that peaceful protesters and citizens who were observing and documenting law enforcement activity have been arrested, beaten, and tear-gassed.
According to Clinton, the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti show what he described as unacceptable actions that “should have been avoided.” He further accused those in charge of lying to the public and telling Americans not to believe what they see with their own eyes, while pushing what he called “increasingly aggressive and antagonistic tactics,” including interfering with investigations by local authorities.
Clinton added that moments like these define history and warned that giving up freedoms after 250 years could mean never getting them back. He urged Americans who believe in democracy to stand up and speak out, saying the nation still belongs to “We the People.”
Of course, while Clinton framed the situation as a crisis of freedom, federal agents were conducting immigration operations and responding to confrontations on the street. Once again, the narrative quickly shifted from enforcement of the law to political outrage, with the former president stepping in to point fingers at the Trump administration.
In the end, this episode shows how quickly tragedy can be turned into political theater, even by former presidents. But one thing remains clear: the country is strongest when the rule of law is respected and when leaders support those tasked with keeping order. With firm resolve and a commitment to truth, America can move forward united and stronger than before.
