When Governors Don't Know Who Killed Their Citizens

Governor Tim Walz still doesn't know their names. The two federal agents who shot and killed Alex Pretti, a Minnesota resident, remain anonymous to the state's chief executive. He doesn't even have proof they've been placed on administrative leave, as claimed. "I don't trust 'em," Walz said bluntly.

This is America in 2026: a sitting governor unable to get basic information about federal agents operating in his state, killing his constituents.

A Phone Call That Changed Nothing

President Trump finally called Walz this week—the first time since the Minneapolis crisis began. Political pressure from supporters had mounted as videos of federal agents in military gear confronting protesters went viral.

The conversation was "conciliatory," Walz noted, but revealed telling priorities. Trump never mentioned Alex Pretti or Renee Good by name—the two citizens killed by federal agents. He never asked about their families or how Minnesotans were coping.

Instead, Trump's message was transactional: "What can you do to help us? What can you do to cooperate more?"

Walz made two demands: remove federal agents from Minnesota and include the state in investigations. Trump's response? "I'll look into it." No concrete commitments, no timeline, no accountability.

Two Approaches to Crowd Control

The contrast in tactics couldn't be starker. Federal agents emerged from the Whipple building "all geared up, like they're in Afghanistan," charging at retired teachers, nurses, and students exercising First Amendment rights. They deployed tear gas, shouted, and heckled peaceful protesters.

When Walz deployed the Minnesota National Guard to take over, his first directive was different: "Deliver doughnuts. Deliver hot chocolate. Deliver coffee. And learn the names of those people, 'cause they're human beings; they're your neighbors."

The result? Protesters began bringing food to the Guard members who were away from their families. "That's how you do policing," Walz explained.

Why They Hate Minnesota

Walz believes the federal assault on Minnesota isn't really about immigration—it's about ideology. "I think they hate us 'cause we have low childhood-poverty rates. I think they hate us because we have high homeownership rates... because we have a progressive taxation system."

The numbers support his theory. Minnesota has rejected Trump three times. The state consistently ranks first or second in voter turnout nationally. "Do you not think that tens of thousands of people who stood out in 40 below zero are not gonna show up in a heated voting booth to vote against this?" Walz laughed.

A State Under Siege

The psychological impact runs deep. Students aren't attending school. Residents flee when they see government SUVs, mistaking them for ICE vehicles. Some cars now display signs reading "We're not ICE."

"I've watched people run," Walz said. "You can feel the fear."

Even Walz's own security detail faces suspicion from residents who might normally wave at their governor. The social fabric is fraying in ways that transcend politics.

The Fort Sumter Question

Walz raised a chilling historical parallel: "Is this a Fort Sumter, John Brown—where are we at on this?" The reference to the opening shots of the Civil War wasn't casual hyperbole.

"The people who think that Governor Walz should call in the National Guard and arrest ICE—guns pointed, American at Americans—is certainly not where we want to go," he said. But he's clearly contemplating scenarios that seemed unthinkable just months ago.

The governor emphasized nonviolence while acknowledging his constituents' anger: "They're shooting us. They're killing us. They're beating us. They're taking our children. But you see what's happening now. For all that power and all that cruelty, they are retreating massively."

What Comes Next?

Walz gave the federal government 48 to 72 hours to show "massive change" or face unspecified consequences. He's meeting with Border Czar Tom Homan, who at least had the courtesy to call—unlike his predecessors.

"If we don't see a massive change here, I have no choice but to go back and tell my folks that you're not doing it," Walz warned.

When pressed about his next steps if federal agents don't leave, Walz was circumspect but determined: "We're gonna continue to go to the courts... Republicans can end this."