On Friday, President Trump commented on Alex Preti, stating that his “stock has gone way down.” This remark followed the release of a video showing Preti spitting at a federal immigration officer and damaging a black SUV’s taillight just days before he was killed by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis.
Trump noted, “The stock price of agitator and likely insurrectionist Alex Preti has fallen significantly after a video emerged of him yelling and spitting at a very composed ICE officer.”
He further described Preti’s actions, saying, “He then kicks a new, expensive government vehicle so violently that the taillights shatter. The ICE officer remained calm, which is quite impressive in such situations. Let’s make America great again.”
A video from January 13 shows Preti, age 37, confronting federal agents while they attempted to disperse a crowd protesting against immigration enforcement.
The footage depicts Preti, dressed in the same attire he wore when he was shot 11 days later, appearing to spit at an ICE officer as he approached his vehicle.
During the incident, Preti kicked the rear taillight of the government SUV, breaking it as the vehicle drove off.
Later, a confrontation with Border Patrol agents escalated, and Preti had a loaded Sig Sauer pistol taken from his waistband. He was subsequently pinned to the ground and shot at least ten times.
DHS investigators suspect that Preti’s own handgun might have been stolen and accidentally discharged, which led the Border Patrol to return fire.
The two agents involved in Preti’s shooting have been placed on administrative leave as of Wednesday.
To address the unrest in the Twin Cities following the January 7 incidents involving Preti and another anti-ICE protester, President Trump sent border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota. Homan stated that federal authorities would be prioritizing targeted immigration enforcement, specifically against immigrants who have committed crimes after entering illegally.
