Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said Saturday’s killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse who was protesting President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigrationwas a “true tragedy”. Pretti was a United States citizen born in Illinois.
“I think the deaths of Americans, what we see on television, raises deep concerns about federal tactics and accountability,” Stitt told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “Americans don’t like what they’re seeing right now.”
Asked if he thinks the president should remove immigration agents from Minnesota, Stitt said Trump needs to answer that question.
“He’s getting bad advice right now,” Stitt said.
The governor said the Republican president needs to tell the American people what the solution and the “endgame” is, and that solutions are needed instead of politicizing the situation. “Right now, tempers are going crazy and we need to calm the situation,” Stitt said.
Other Republicans, including Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, also expressed discomfort. In a social media post, Cassidy called the shooting “incredibly disturbing” and that “the credibility of ICE and DHS is at stake.” Tillis called for a “thorough and impartial investigation.”
“Any administration official who rushes to judgment and attempts to end an investigation before it begins is doing a disservice to the nation and the legacy of President Trump,” Tillis said in a message.
Administration officials have staunchly defended tough immigration tactics.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said “it’s a tragedy when someone dies,” but he accused Minnesota Democratic leaders of “fomenting chaos.”
“There are a lot of paid agitators who are making things happen and the governor has not done a good job of calming the problem,” Bessent said on ABC’s “This Week.”
__
Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report
