Trump Grapples With MAGA Backlash Over Minnesota Border Guard Shootings
President Trump is confronting a mounting rebellion from his MAGA loyalists, who accuse him of a "betrayal" of border guards, following his pledge to "de-escalate" tensions in Minnesota. This crisis unfolds as the US leader finds himself caught between two opposing factions, with explosive new polling data revealing that a majority of Americans hold him responsible for recent bloodshed involving ICE officials.
Deadly Incidents Spark National Outcry
The turmoil centres on the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by border guards in Minneapolis on Saturday. Multiple bystander videos captured the incident, showing an agent firing shots after a brief scuffle, which appeared to contradict statements from the Department for Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS had claimed the shots were fired "defensively" as Pretti "approached" them with a gun. This tragedy occurred just weeks after the January 7 killing of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was shot by an ICE officer less than a mile away in the same city.
Trump's Silence Fuels Electoral Frustration
During a lengthy rally in Iowa on Tuesday evening, President Trump had a prime opportunity to address the escalating situation in Minneapolis. However, he opted to avoid the topic entirely, instead focusing on economic issues such as tariffs, wages, and inflation, in a speech aimed at rallying support for the upcoming mid-term elections. His silence on the shootings is likely to aggravate an electorate already demanding answers, with many voters expressing frustration over the administration's handling of the crisis.
Polling Reveals Widespread Blame and Disapproval
A new Daily Mail poll conducted by JL Partners has delivered damning results for the Trump administration. The survey of 1,027 registered voters found that 53% of Americans blame the Trump administration for the violence in Minnesota, with 35% pointing the finger at Democrats. Specifically, one-third of respondents pin the blame directly on President Trump, while 20% fault the missions of ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
This fallout has negatively impacted Trump's approval ratings, which have dropped to 45% approval—his equal worst showing in the survey—with 55% now disapproving of his overall performance. Immigration, once his signature issue, has become a significant liability, with only 39% approving of his handling of the matter and 47% disapproving. The zeal of ICE operations is now the top driver of disapproval, cited by 28% of Americans, a sharp increase of 10 points since the Pretti shooting.
Public Sentiment Shifts Against ICE Operations
American voters are increasingly turning against ICE, with 53% now demanding that its raids and presence in US cities cease. Even among Republicans, 19% agree with this stance, though 71% of GOP voters believe the raids should continue. Furthermore, 47% of respondents believe ICE should be disbanded, up from 43% in a previous poll, with 27% of Republicans, 66% of Democrats, and 46% of independents supporting this view.
Internal Reports and Leadership Changes Add to Turmoil
A new Border Patrol report has compounded the administration's woes, revealing that two agents fired the ten shots that killed Mr Pretti, without mentioning him taking out a gun. This contradicts earlier portrayals by DHS and Border Patrol officials, who described Pretti as an instigator who "brandished" a weapon. In response to the crisis, President Trump has reportedly pulled DHS Secretary Kristi Noem—who had defended the Pretti shooting—from internal immigration enforcement, redirecting her to focus on border security.
Her replacement, White House Border Czar Tom Homan, is now tasked with coordinating negotiations between Minnesota Democratic state leaders and the White House. However, immigration hardliners fear that any deal scaling back ICE operations in Minnesota could be seen as a collapse of Trump's mass deportation agenda, a concern exacerbated by Trump's recent comments on Fox News about de-escalating in Minneapolis.
Defining Moment for Trump's Second Term
As disapproval rains down from both the general public and his MAGA core, President Trump faces a delicate balancing act. Appeasing one group risks alienating the other, with his MAGA base fearing a betrayal of their hardline immigration expectations. The coming days are poised to define his second term in office, as he navigates what may be the biggest crisis of his presidency, with his decisions likely to shape his legacy and electoral prospects.
