Barack Obama Warns That Alex Pretti’s Killing Is A “Wake-Up Call,” While Donald Trump Decries Attempt To Halt White House Ballroom Construction

Former President Barack Obama weighed in on the killing of Alex Pretti, whose shooting by a federal agent on Saturday was met with furor and outrage as videos showed a different story of what happened than the initial Trump administration account.

Obama posted a lengthy message on X, writing that Pretti’s killing was a “heartbreaking tragedy” and a “wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.”

Obama, who was joined by his wife Michelle Obama in the statement, wrote that federal law enforcement and immigration agents “Have a tough job. But Americans expect them to carry out their duties in a lawful, accountable way, and to work with, rather than against, state and local officials to ensure public safety.”

“That’s not what we’re seeing in Minnesota. In fact, we’re seeing the opposite.”

As Sunday shows focused on Pretti’s killing, this morning Trump posted instead a lengthy warning about the possible stoppage of work on the new White House ballroom. A federal judge is considering a lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued after Trump ordered the teardown of the East Wing and other parts of the White House complex.

The president said that a work stoppage of the ballroom would be “devastating.”

Trump wrote, “IT IS TOO LATE! Why didn’t these obstructionists and troublemakers bring their baseless lawsuit much earlier? Congress never tried, or wanted, to stop the Ballroom Project! Everyone knew what was taking place at the White House — A great, big, beautiful gift to the United States of America!”

In July, Trump had indicated earlier that the ballroom “won’t interfere” with the current building, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicted that the East Wing would be “modernized.” Its demolition last fall came as a surprise to many architectural and preservation groups, albeit the White House Historical Association was informed but did not go public with any objections.

After Obama’s message, Trump later posted on the situation in Minneapolis, writing, “Minnesota is a Criminal COVER UP of the massive Financial Fraud that has gone on!” On Saturday, Trump blamed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Democrats. He wrote that Walz and Frey “are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric!”