Phone talks with Gov. Walz and Mayor Frey hint at easing tensions after Minneapolis deaths
Minneapolis, Minnesota – Web Desk: US President Donald Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signaled a possible de-escalation after a private phone call on Monday, following a wave of criticism over a Trump-ordered deportation drive that left two US citizens dead in Minneapolis.
Trump also spoke with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey in a move seen as a conciliatory step after weeks of vitriolic exchanges. The phone calls coincided with a shake-up in the federal operation, as Gregory Bovino, a prominent Border Patrol official and a lightning rod for criticism, is expected to leave Minnesota along with some agents deployed under his command. Trump announced that his designated border czar, Tom Homan, would replace Bovino in the state under “Operation Metro Surge.” Homan, according to Trump, “has not been involved” in the crackdown but “knows and likes many of the people there.”
Bovino has been a visible advocate for the administration’s deportation enforcement, often leading heavily armed federal agents in Minneapolis streets. Reports suggest Bovino will return to California’s El Centro sector and may retire soon, although DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin denied that he had been relieved of duties.
The shift in tone follows the deaths of ICU nurse Alex Pretti, 37, and activist Renee Good, also 37, both US citizens, during confrontations with federal agents. Video evidence contradicts federal claims that Pretti and Good posed threats with weapons, fueling public outrage and sparking statewide backlash. Minnesota authorities have accused the federal government of obstructing state investigations, triggering a legal dispute over evidence collection.
During their calls, Trump and Walz reportedly discussed reducing the number of federal immigration agents in Minnesota and ensuring the state could conduct its own investigation into Pretti’s death. Trump described the conversation as being “on a similar wavelength,” while Frey confirmed that some federal agents would begin leaving the Twin Cities immediately.
The developments also appear to influence political dynamics in Minnesota. GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Madel withdrew his campaign, citing the crackdown as excessive and politically damaging.
Public support for Trump’s immigration enforcement measures is waning, according to recent Reuters/Ipsos polling, as scrutiny intensifies over the use of federal forces against American citizens. The Trump administration maintains that agents acted in self-defense, though video footage contradicts these claims, showing Pretti holding a phone, not a gun, before being fatally shot.
The unfolding situation highlights the friction between federal immigration enforcement and state-level accountability, as Minnesota authorities and the public demand transparency and justice following the controversial shootings.
