Not missing an opportunity to add gasoline to the fire in Minnesota, former President Barack Obama offered his two cents on the fatal shooting of a protester in Minneapolis.
Obama’s public criticism of the Trump administration came after the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was allegedly carrying a loaded firearm and was shot by Border Patrol agents as they tried to arrest him.
“The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy,” Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama said in a statement that he shared on X on Sunday. “It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.”
The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault. pic.twitter.com/0JmEsJ1QFW
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 25, 2026
“People across the country have been rightly outraged by the spectacle of masked ICE recruits and other federal agents acting with impunity and engaging in tactics that seem designed to intimidate, harass, and provoke and endanger the residents of a major American city,” wrote the former president, who has remained quiet on the chaos in Minnesota.
“The President and current administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation, while offering public explanation for the shootings of Mr. Pretti and Renee Good that aren’t informed by any serious investigation – and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence,” Obama added.
The statement joined fellow Democrats in their chorus of condemnation of the administration and federal immigration officers, as they accused agents of committing “murder” and President Donald Trump of essentially being Adolf Hitler.
“Over the course of a lifetime, we face only a few moments where the decisions we make and the actions we take will shape our history for years to come. This is one of them,” former President Bill Clinton said in his own statement.
Tim Walz pounces to smear ‘violent, untrained’ ICE agents after armed suspect shot and killed https://t.co/5oS4szQsFR
— American Wire News (@americanwire_) January 25, 2026
“Obama should join President Trump in urging local Democrat leaders — like Walz and Frey — to work with the Trump Administration to remove dangerous criminal illegal aliens from American communities,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement. “Instead, they are attacking law enforcement and defending criminal illegal aliens with additional convictions for murder, rape, assault, and more.”
Social media users unloaded on Obama over his public critique.
What are your core values, Barack? I have no idea what you stand for …
That being said, I don’t think you’d know a core value of our nation if one fell out of the sky, landed on your face, and started to wiggle.
— The🐰FOO (@PolitiBunny) January 25, 2026
The core values like don’t aggressively wrestle with multiple Federal Agents while strapped?
— Ranked Choice Vote By Text Message (@bobostatue) January 26, 2026
You’re the father of it all.
— Texx Wrangler (@TonySouthDakota) January 26, 2026
Obama, your call to support and draw inspiration from the wave of peaceful protests in Minneapolis against ICE is pure, fact-checked hypocrisy.
Official DHS and TRAC data confirm your administration oversaw more than three point one million ICE deportations, formal removals…
— James Bradley (@JamesBradleyCA) January 26, 2026
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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