Agreement to Deescalate Tensions in Minneapolis
President Donald Trump and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have seemingly come to an understanding to ease tensions following the shooting of anti-ICE protesters.
Trump mentioned on social media that he had a productive phone call with Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz. He also had a positive conversation with Mayor Frey.
“Violent criminals should be held accountable based on the crimes they commit, not where they come from,” Trump stated, emphasizing the need for accountability.
Later, he remarked, “I just had a very nice phone conversation with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey,” expressing optimism about ongoing discussions. He noted that Border Patrol official Tom Homan is set to meet with Frey the next day.
In a follow-up post, Mayor Frey acknowledged their conversation, thanking the president. He emphasized the importance of the immigrant community in Minneapolis and highlighted his primary demand: the end of Operation Metro Surge. Frey reported that Trump concurred that the ongoing situation is unsustainable.
Frey announced that federal personnel would begin withdrawing from the area starting the next day. He expressed his intention to encourage any remaining personnel involved in the operation to leave.
The mayor’s comments seemed to reference a report from Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino and others regarding the withdrawal from Minneapolis.
Frey also indicated that while the city would cooperate with federal investigations, it would not support unconstitutional arrests or the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
He reiterated, “Violent criminals should be held accountable based on the crimes they commit, not where they come from,” affirming his commitment to work collaboratively across all government levels to ensure community safety and prioritize Minneapolis residents.
Sadly, the context of this dialogue comes in the wake of a tragic incident. An anti-ICE protester named Alex Preti was fatally shot during an altercation with federal immigration agents attempting to disrupt the operation. At the time of the incident, Preti was armed, but one of the agents managed to disarm him before the gunfire erupted.
In response to this tragic event, Democrats called for the immediate withdrawal of federal troops from Minnesota. Governor Walz voiced his outrage, stating, “It’s disgusting. The President must end this operation. Get thousands of violent, untrained police officers out of Minnesota. Now.”
