Fox News amplified a new post from President Donald Trump, 79, saying he wants to work with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as civil unrest continues in the state. But some online critics argued the president’s tone sounded less aggressive than his earlier rhetoric.
Over the weekend, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, was shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis. Earlier in January, Renée Nicole Good was also fatally shot after a confrontation with an ICE agent, also in Minneapolis. In both cases, the Trump administration said the shootings were acts of self-defense amid escalating protests.
On Monday, Fox News shared Trump’s Truth Social post describing a phone call with Walz.
“Governor Tim Walz called me with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota. It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” Trump wrote. He added, “I told Governor Walz that I would have Tom Homan call him, and that what we are looking for are any and all Criminals that they have in their possession.”
Trump continued that Walz “very respectfully” understood the approach and said he would speak with the governor again soon. “He was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I!” Trump wrote.
He also pointed to what he described as law-enforcement gains elsewhere: “We have had such tremendous SUCCESS in Washington, D.C., Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana, and virtually every other place that we have ‘touched’ and, even in Minnesota, Crime is way down, but both Governor Walz and I want to make it better!”
Backlash and support split online
Even as Trump framed the exchange as cooperative, some social media users accused him of softening his stance.
“There are laws in place to abide by! Why does Trump have to negotiate with Walz?” one critic wrote.
Another posted, “MR. PRESIDENT, with all due respect, you can’t deal with Walz! Please reconsider the Insurrection Act, as you said!”
A third added, “In other words, after all the tough guy talk, Trump caved.”
Others, however, said cooperation was the only realistic path forward.
“Let’s hope cooperation brings peace and stability on the ground. Actions matter more than statements,” one supporter wrote.
Trump previously attacked Walz and Minneapolis leaders
The post came shortly after Trump publicly criticized Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in connection with Pretti’s death.
Trump shared photos of what immigration authorities said was a firearm recovered from Pretti and asked, “What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?”
He accused the governor and mayor of “inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric.”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also alleged that Pretti assaulted officers, which led to the fatal shooting.
At a subsequent press conference, Frey pushed back on Trump’s claims, saying: “I just saw a video of more than six masked agents pummeling one of our constituents and shooting him to death.”
“How many more residents, how many more Americans, need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?” Frey added.
