On January 26, 2026, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt held a wide-ranging press briefing that addressed severe winter weather, federal disaster response, immigration enforcement, and ongoing investigations tied to a deadly incident in Minneapolis. The briefing reflected a moment of overlapping national challenges, combining emergency management with deeply contested public safety and immigration debates.
Leavitt opened by acknowledging a major winter storm affecting much of the country. She said President Trump was closely monitoring conditions and remained in regular contact with FEMA and emergency responders. Within 24 hours, the president approved 12 federal emergency disaster declarations covering states across the South, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic. According to Leavitt, these declarations were designed to help states restore power, clear roads, and maintain public safety. She emphasized that the White House would continue coordinating with governors and local officials as recovery efforts progressed.
The briefing then shifted to the events in Minnesota, where a weekend shooting involving federal agents resulted in the death of Alex Pretti. Leavitt expressed condolences to the Pretti family, as well as Renee Good’s family, and said no one in the White House wanted to see anyone harmed. She confirmed that the incident was under active investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI, alongside an internal review by Customs and Border Protection. The administration, she said, intended to let those investigations proceed before drawing conclusions.
Leavitt argued that tensions leading up to the incident were exacerbated by political opposition to federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota. She said state and local leaders had discouraged cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and publicly criticized federal officers, which she claimed created unsafe conditions for both law enforcement and civilians. According to Leavitt, the administration believes such resistance contributed to chaos on the ground and made enforcement operations more volatile.
Throughout the briefing, Leavitt reiterated the administration’s broader immigration stance. She said President Trump was fulfilling a campaign promise to prioritize the arrest and removal of undocumented immigrants with criminal records, particularly those convicted of violent offenses. She cited polling that, according to the administration, shows broad public support for deporting individuals convicted of violent crimes. Leavitt also called on Congress to pass legislation ending sanctuary city policies, arguing that cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement is essential for public safety.
Reporters pressed Leavitt on comments made by other administration officials who labeled Alex Pretti a domestic terrorist before investigations were complete. Leavitt responded that she had not heard the president personally use that language and reiterated that he wanted the facts to guide conclusions. She declined to speculate on details such as body camera footage, specific actions taken during the shooting, or whether apologies would be issued, consistently pointing back to the ongoing investigations.
Questions also touched on the role of senior administration officials sent to Minnesota. Leavitt said Border Czar Tom Homan was traveling to the state at the president’s request to engage with local leaders and seek cooperation. She emphasized that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem retained the president’s full confidence and continued to oversee DHS operations nationwide.
Beyond domestic issues, Leavitt briefly addressed foreign policy. She said the president remained engaged in efforts related to Ukraine and Russia, was being updated by senior advisers, and continued to prioritize diplomatic progress. She also highlighted the return of the final Israeli hostages from Gaza and noted expanding international participation in reconstruction and peace initiatives in the region.
The briefing closed with Leavitt reiterating the administration’s central message: that investigations should be allowed to proceed, disaster response would remain a priority, and cooperation across levels of government was necessary to restore order, ensure safety, and carry out federal law.
