President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his administration plans to "de-escalate a little bit" in Minnesota following a series of fatal shootings this month that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens in incidents involving federal immigration agents.
The president made the remark during an interview on Fox News' The Will Cain Show when asked about the federal response in Minnesota. "We are going to de-escalate a little bit," he said, framing the adjustment as a deliberate modification of operations in the state.
Trump sought to clarify the nature of the change, stressing that the move should not be understood as a retreat from federal activity. "Not a pullback, but a change," he said, signaling an expectation that federal enforcement posture would be altered in form, though not necessarily diminished in intent.
In the same interview, Trump said he had spoken with Tom Homan, whom the president referred to as his "border czar." Homan was earlier dispatched by the administration to Minneapolis to monitor and oversee the situation directly, according to the president's remarks.
The shootings in Minnesota, which left two U.S. citizens dead earlier this month, prompted federal attention and the deployment of Homan. Trump did not provide additional operational details in the interview about how the de-escalation will be implemented or what specific changes will follow, beyond characterizing the action as a change rather than a pullback.
Officials and observers seeking further specifics on the planned adjustments will need to await follow-up statements or directives from the administration, as the president's comments identified a shift in posture but did not outline its precise contours.
Summary of the president's statements
- Trump announced plans to "de-escalate a little bit" in Minnesota.
- He described the move as "not a pullback, but a change."
- Trump confirmed he spoke with Tom Homan, whom he had sent to Minneapolis to oversee the situation firsthand.