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Rand Paul goes on 60 Minutes to shred Trump admin over Alex Pretti shooting

February 3, 2026 | | Print Article

Sen. Rand Paul’s double down response to Minnesota fatalities was embraced by “60 Minutes” as he likened administration officials’ statements to someone who “lie[s] to your heart’s content.”

Of all the hot takes that followed the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti after each was shot amid confrontations with federal law enforcement officers, it remained without question that neither would have died if they hadn’t shown up motivated to protest. Having already postured against President Donald Trump’s administration’s response to Pretti’s death, the Kentucky Republican joined CBS News’ Scott Pelley to further challenge messaging.

“I saw no evidence. I saw a man that was retreating,” argued Paul as various angles of the incident were played for the audience. “I mean, he went to the middle of the street. He didn’t even obstruct traffic. He let a car go through. As the agents advanced on him, he retreated to the side of the street. A woman is violently pushed to the ground, and he turns to help her, and that’s when he is grabbed from behind. I saw no evidence of him assaulting the police.”

“Should Secretary Noem be fired?” asked Pelley who was told, “I think we have to get through our hearing February 12th, and I think we have to see what people who work for her say. But my advice to them, if they’re watching and they come to testify, is if you come in and you’re going to justify that this man was aggressively assaulting your police officers. That cannot be acceptable, and that’s why they’re lacking in trust.”

The correspondent then prompted his guest with remarks from U.S. Border Patrol’s Gregory Bovino, FBI Director Kash Patel and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller in the wake of the incident that alleged Pretti to be someone who “wanted to do maximum damage” and an “assassin.”

“It sounds like terrible judgment. I mean, terrible conclusions, incorrect conclusions, stating things that no one else believes. You can lie to your heart’s content if there’s no video. But the video doesn’t support what they’re saying,” said the senator.

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“You seem to be saying trust is broken,” remarked Pelley as Paul answered, “Without question.”

Previously, the Kentucky lawmaker had called for the heads of federal immigration enforcement agencies to testify before the Senate Homeland Security Committee while calling for an independent investigation of Pretti’s death. He had also called for the officers responsible for the death to be placed on administrative leave, a standard practice with shootings.

After Pelley’s narration faulted alleged “brutality” from federal immigration enforcement as the catalyst for agitators merely “pushing the limits of the First Amendment,” he asked the senator whether protestors bear responsibility for unrest in Minneapolis.

“Well, sure. I mean the thing is, if you were my son or daughter, would I tell you to spit on the police? Absolutely not. Would I tell you to yell and scream at them? No. I would tell you to go to a primary and knock on doors, sign up people, and try to convince people, particularly in a primary, of who to vote for,” said Paul. “That is the way I would protest. But is it illegal to protest? No.”

Routinely the target of ire from the president alongside fellow Kentucky lawmaker Rep. Thomas Massie (R), the senator hadn’t exactly endeared himself to Trump supporters with his latest remarks.

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Kevin Haggerty
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