President Donald Trump on Tuesday made clear he has no plans to ask Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to step down, brushing aside mounting pressure from Democrats following two deadly federal law enforcement encounters in Minnesota.
Trump was asked directly about Noem’s status during a gaggle with reporters outside the White House.
“Is Kristi Noem going to step down?” a reporter asked.
“No,” Trump responded bluntly.
The president later said he still believes Noem is doing a “very good job,” pointing to her leadership role in shutting down the border and backing federal agents amid escalating protests and unrest tied to immigration enforcement.
Trump’s comments come as Kristi Noem faces intense scrutiny over the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during a federal operation in Minneapolis earlier this month. The incident sparked days of unrest, clashes with law enforcement and renewed criticism from Democratic officials who have accused the administration of mishandling enforcement efforts.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., called on Trump to fire Noem outright on Tuesday, accusing her of betraying the Department of Homeland Security’s mission.
“I make a direct appeal to immediately fire Sec. Noem,” Fetterman wrote in a post on X.
.@POTUS @realDonaldTrump: I make a direct appeal to immediately fire @Sec_Noem.
Americans have died.
She is betraying DHS’s core mission and trashing your border security legacy.
DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary.
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) January 27, 2026
Noem, however, forcefully defended the actions of federal agents during a contentious exchange Sunday with Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy on The Sunday Briefing, pushing back against claims that agents acted improperly during the encounter with Alex Pretti.
The interview focused on whether Border Patrol agents followed protocol, video footage from the scene, and the legal line between peaceful protest and criminal interference.
“We do know that he came to that scene and impeded a law enforcement operation,” Noem said. “That is against federal law. It’s a felony.”
According to Noem, agents attempted to disengage from the confrontation, but the situation escalated.
“When they tried to get him to disengage, he became aggressive and resisted them throughout that process,” she said. “These officers used their training, followed their protocols, and were in fear of their lives and the people around them.”
Doocy pressed Noem on footage that appears to show an officer removing a weapon from Pretti before shots were fired.
“That’s all part of this investigation,” Noem said. “Every video will be analyzed. Everything will be looked at. If you watch that and listen to those videos, you can hear someone yelling ‘gun, gun, gun,’ and those agents and officers reacted to that.”
She also addressed broader concerns about armed protesters confronting law enforcement.
“We can’t have individuals that are impeding law enforcement operations and then showing up with guns and weapons and no ID and confronting law enforcement like that,” Noem said. “It is one of the reasons that we see situations like this unfold.”
When asked where the line is drawn between lawful protest and criminal behavior, Noem was unequivocal.
“You cannot impede a law enforcement investigation or operation,” she said. “When an officer tells you to back off and gives you orders, you should comply.”
“It’s also breaking the law to concealed carry in Minnesota without an ID on you,” Noem said. “You shouldn’t be laying hands on law enforcement officers and getting in their faces and trying to stop them from conducting their work.”
Federal officials have said agents were conducting a targeted ICE operation when Pretti allegedly approached them during a chaotic confrontation while armed with a firearm, prompting agents to use deadly force. DHS has maintained that the shooting was justified based on officer safety concerns.
The incident unfolded amid heightened tensions in Minnesota, where anti-ICE protests and clashes with federal officers have continued for weeks. President Trump and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz spoke by phone Tuesday as the unrest escalated. Officials described the call as productive, with Trump signaling he would consider reducing the ICE presence in Minnesota while coordinating more closely with state leadership.
Despite the political pressure, Trump’s public backing of Noem appeared firm, signaling that the administration remains committed to its enforcement strategy and its top homeland security official, even as critics continue to demand her removal.
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