Trump Discusses Immigration Crisis with Noem Amid Backlash/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump held a two-hour Oval Office meeting with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and top aides Monday as his administration faces intense scrutiny following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The administration is recalibrating its immigration strategy as criticism grows — even from within the GOP.
Quick Look:
- Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem met for two hours Monday night at the White House
- The meeting focused on the administration’s Minneapolis immigration strategy after two fatal shootings
- Senior staff, including Corey Lewandowski and Susie Wiles, also attended
- No job threats were made, but strategy revisions are underway
- Border czar Tom Homan now takes over operations in Minneapolis
- DHS spokesperson confirmed Noem remains in charge at the agency
- Criticism continues as federal claims about the Pretti shooting remain unsubstantiated
- DHS’ internal agency is leading the shooting investigation, with FBI support
- No federal civil rights probe has been opened so far
Deep Look: Trump Meets with Noem Amid Fallout Over Minneapolis Immigration Operation
President Donald Trump met for nearly two hours Monday evening with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and senior adviser Corey Lewandowski in the Oval Office, as the administration faces mounting pressure over its controversial immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, two sources familiar with the meeting told CNN.
The meeting was requested by Noem and comes just days after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti — the second death involving federal agents in Minneapolis this month — reignited national outrage and bipartisan criticism of the administration’s enforcement strategy.
According to the sources, Trump did not issue any threats to Noem or Lewandowski regarding their positions. Instead, the conversation centered on how to maintain momentum behind Trump’s immigration priorities in Minnesota while addressing growing public backlash and unrest in the city.
Other senior White House officials, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Communications Director Steven Cheung, also participated in the meeting. The gathering was first reported by The New York Times.
The White House declined to comment publicly on the session. However, one official reiterated the president’s continued support for Noem, even as operational changes unfold on the ground.
In the wake of Saturday’s shooting, the administration has faced criticism for issuing conflicting or unsupported claims about Pretti’s actions. Videos circulating online appear to contradict statements by Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, who had alleged that Pretti assaulted agents before he was killed. No evidence has been released to substantiate those claims.
Bovino, who became a flashpoint over the weekend after clashing with lawmakers and activists on social media, was suspended from his DHS accounts on Monday. He is expected to depart Minneapolis on Tuesday following Trump’s announcement that Tom Homan, the administration’s border czar, will now lead immigration enforcement efforts in the region.
Asked about the Oval Office meeting during a Tuesday interview on Fox News, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said Trump and Noem had “at-length discussions” but declined to share details.
“Secretary Noem will continue to oversee the Department of Homeland Security,” McLaughlin confirmed, adding that Noem is “very happy” with Homan’s leadership role in Minneapolis operations.
While Homeland Security Investigations — the investigative arm of DHS — is formally leading the probe into Pretti’s killing, with FBI support, major questions remain about the status and scope of federal investigations. As of Tuesday, the Department of Justice had not announced a civil rights inquiry, despite rising calls for transparency.
In Minneapolis, a federal crisis coordination center has been set up to manage protest response, but critics warn the administration is focusing more on suppressing dissent than uncovering the truth behind the shootings.
As the situation in Minneapolis continues to evolve, Trump’s White House is facing a delicate balancing act: trying to reinforce its tough-on-immigration stance without further alienating voters concerned about the federal government’s conduct.
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