Minnesota killings: Trump in phone call with Walz, says conversation productive

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

President Donald Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described a Monday phone call as positive and productive, marking a notable moment of dialogue amid heightened tensions over federal immigration enforcement operations in the Twin Cities area.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump characterized the conversation as “very good,” stating that Walz had reached out “with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota.”

He claimed the two were on a “similar wavelength” and that Walz was receptive to federal priorities.

Trump said he offered to have his “border czar,” Tom Homan, contact Walz directly, with the focus on identifying and transferring “any and all Criminals,” referring to criminal undocumented immigrants, held in state custody.

Trump added that Walz “was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota” and highlighted recent enforcement successes in cities like Washington, D.C., Memphis, and New Orleans, while noting that crime in Minnesota is already “way down” but both leaders want further improvements.

The call follows intense scrutiny of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agent activities in Minneapolis, including two recent fatal shootings involving federal officers.

One prominent incident involved the death of 37-year-old U.S. citizen Alex Pretti, an intensive-care nurse, who was shot by Border Patrol agents on January 24, 2026, during what federal officials described as an encounter involving resistance.

The shootings have sparked protests, demands for accountability, and criticism of what some local leaders call an overly aggressive federal presence.

In his own statement, Walz described the discussion as “productive.”

He said he pressed Trump for impartial investigations into the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents and for a reduction in the number of federal agents operating in the state.

According to Walz’s office, Trump agreed to discuss with the Department of Homeland Security allowing state police to participate in the investigations.

The president also reportedly committed to exploring ways to reduce the federal agent footprint in Minnesota and to pursue more coordinated immigration enforcement focused on violent criminals.

Walz emphasized Minnesota’s existing cooperation with ICE, noting that the state’s Department of Corrections routinely notifies federal authorities about non-citizens in custody and has no documented cases of releasing such individuals without offering a smooth transfer to ICE.

This point appeared aimed at countering narratives of non-cooperation from sanctuary-like policies or resistance.

The exchange represents a shift in tone from Walz’s earlier public demands for Trump to immediately withdraw what he called “thousands of violent, untrained officers” from Minnesota.