President Donald Trump left an NBC Nightly News anchor visibly confused during a White House interview this week, following questions about the tragic shooting deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The exchange, which occurred on Thursday, February 5, 2026, saw Trump deliver a response that baffled interviewer Tom Llamas with its unexpected shift in topic.
Trump's Response to Minneapolis Question
When pressed about the Minneapolis incidents, President Trump stated he was "not happy" with the events but expressed resentment over the negative publicity that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was receiving in the aftermath. Rather than focusing on the details of the killings, Trump quickly diverted the conversation to the removal of "murderers" from the country, a move that seemed to sidestep the specific issue at hand.
Unexpected Pivot to Caribbean Waters
The president then made a surprising pivot, shifting the discussion to the United States' "very tough" presence targeting alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea. This abrupt change in subject left interviewer Tom Llamas struggling to follow the president's train of thought, prompting him to seek clarification with the question, "the waters?"
Llamas's confusion was palpable as he attempted to reconcile Trump's comments about Minneapolis with the sudden mention of maritime operations in the Caribbean. The interviewer's bafflement highlighted the disjointed nature of the exchange, which veered from domestic violence to international drug enforcement without clear connection.
Context of the Interview
The interview took place at the White House, where Llamas had sought to address the Minneapolis killings directly. Trump's response, however, demonstrated his tendency to redirect conversations toward topics he prefers to emphasize, such as immigration enforcement and drug interdiction efforts.
This incident underscores the challenges journalists face when interviewing President Trump, whose answers often diverge from the original questions. The confusion expressed by Llamas reflects a broader pattern of unconventional communication that has characterized Trump's public statements throughout his presidency.
As the interview concluded, the focus remained on Trump's enigmatic reference to "the water," leaving viewers and the interviewer alike pondering the president's intended message regarding the Minneapolis tragedies.
