U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (January 27, 2026) he would “de-escalate a little bit” in Minneapolis after the fatal shootings of two civilians fueled a storm of criticism over his signature immigration crackdown.

Mr. Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan, met with officials in the city as the Republican attempted damage control after the killing by immigration agents of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti on Saturday (January 24).

The president also admitted that Gregory Bovino, a hardline Border Patrol commander who is now expected to leave Minneapolis, was “a pretty out-there kind of a guy” whose presence may not have helped the situation.

“We’re going to de-escalate a little bit,” Mr. Trump told Fox News after days of tensions following the shooting of Pretti, while adding that it was not a “pullback.”

Mr. Trump said that Mr. Homan — the top U.S. border security official, who brings a less confrontational