'We Are Not a Nation That Guns Down Our Citizens': Former President Biden Reacts To Minneapolis Killings

Former President Joe Biden called for "full, fair, and transparent investigations" into the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, saying events in Minneapolis over the past month "betray our most basic values as Americans."

In a post on X on Tuesday, Biden said the United States is "not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street" or "allows our citizens to be brutalized for exercising their constitutional rights." He added that Minnesotans "have suffered enough at the hands of this Administration" and urged accountability for the deaths of the two residents.

Alex Pretti was fatally shot on Saturday amid ongoing federal immigration enforcement operations and protests in Minnesota, sparking outcry across the country. His death occurred days after Renee Good was killed by an ICE officer earlier this month, leading ctivists to accuse authorities of excessive force.

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Biden said violence and intimidation "have no place in the United States of America," and expressed condolences to the families of Pretti and Good. "Justice requires full, fair, and transparent investigations," he wrote, adding that Americans must "stand up and speak out" to defend constitutional rights.

What has unfolded in Minneapolis this past month betrays our most basic values as Americans. We are not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street. We are not a nation that allows our citizens to be brutalized for exercising their constitutional rights. We are not a…

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 27, 2026

Other former presidents have issued statements reflecting similar concerns about developments in Minnesota. Barack and Michelle Obama said the killing of Pretti should be a "wake-up call" about threats to core national values and argued that federal agents must act lawfully and in cooperation with local authorities. They said the situation in Minnesota shows "the opposite" of that standard and called on the administration to de-escalate tensions and work with state and local leaders.

The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault. pic.twitter.com/0JmEsJ1QFW

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 25, 2026

Former President Bill Clinton described the shootings of Pretti and Good as part of "horrible scenes" unfolding in Minneapolis and other communities, criticizing what he called aggressive tactics by federal agents and obstacles to local investigations. He said the events raise fundamental questions about civil liberties and democratic accountability.

Over the course of a lifetime, we face only a few moments where the decisions we make and the actions we take will shape our history for years to come. This is one of them. pic.twitter.com/fr4TclLBZd

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) January 25, 2026

Authorities have not released final findings on the shootings, and federal agencies have said investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, protests and debates over immigration enforcement, policing, and civil rights continue across Minnesota.

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