Vice PresidentJD Vanceisn't apologizing for echoing the claim thatAlex Prettiwas an "assassin" following the intensive care nurse's shooting death during a confrontation with immigration agents in Minneapolis last month.
Vance reposteda social media postfrom White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller shortly after Pretti's death on Jan. 24. Responding to comments by Sen. Chris Murphy, Miller wrote: "An assassin tried to murder federal agents and this is your response."
During aninterview with the Daily Mailon Feb. 3, the vice president didn't back away from claims that Pretti was a grave threat to law enforcement.
"Apologize for what?" Vance replied when asked whether he would apologize to Pretti's family. When the Mail interviewer pointed to Vance labelling Pretti "an assassin with ill intent," the vice president responded that "he's a guy who showed up with ill intent to an ICE protest."
Vance's office did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.
After the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal immigration agents (ICE), communities across the U.S. are protesting against Trump's surge of immigration enforcement actions.Pictured here, Demonstrators gather for a protest calling for the removal of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Protests were held across the United States in response to ICE enforcement activity." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Hundreds of people gather to protest ICE at the corner of Palafox and Garden Streets in downtown Pensacola, Florida, on Jan. 30, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
'ICE Out' protests spark marches, confrontations across US
After the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal immigration agents (ICE), communities across the U.S. areprotestingagainst Trump's surge of immigration enforcement actions.Pictured here, Demonstrators gather for a protest calling for the removal of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Protests were held across the United States in response to ICE enforcement activity.
The vice president's refusal to apologize came after PresidentDonald Trumpcriticized Pretti in a recent social media post, even as the president has said he wants to "de-escalate" the tense situation in Minnesota. White House officials were quick to portray Pretti as someone looking to harm law enforcement after the shooting.
Miller and Homeland Security SecretaryKristi Noemcalled Pretti a "domestic terrorist," and DHS released a statement saying he appeared poised to "inflict maximum damage." Miller later walked back early Homeland Security comments about Pretti and said that the decision to say the 37-year-old intended to kill immigration authorities was "based on reports from CBP on the ground," referring to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Lawmakers, including Democrats and Republicans, have expressed deep concern over the rhetoric.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, saidsuch claims about Prettiaren't true and that officials "need to admit they made a mistake by rashly saying that because that led to further chaos." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, called Trump officials "utterly shameless" for their comments about Pretti.
The White House later changed course and adopted a more conciliatory approach as uproar over the shooting grew. The presidentwithdrew 700 immigration personnelfrom the state Feb. 4, saying the turmoil in Minneapolis convinced him a "softer touch" is needed on immigration.
Alex Pretti case:Death was ruled a homicide. What did the medical examiner say?
Vance: 'I don't think it's smart to prejudge the investigation'
Trump distanced himself from the language used about Pretti by Miller and others in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. But he laterlashed out at Prettiafter a video surfaced of a previous incident that appeared to show Pretti in a confrontation with federal agents,calling himan 'agitator and, perhaps, insurrectionist."
Videos from bystanders on Jan. 24 did not show Pretti brandishing a gun when he approached federal agents. In the videos, Pretti can be seen holding a cell phone in one hand, his other hand empty, during an immigration enforcement operation that attracted protesters.
The Justice Departmentopened a civil rights investigationinto Pretti's killing. Vance deflected when asked if he'd apologize if the investigation determines that Pretti's civil rights were violated, saying he wanted to let the investigation play out.
"If something is determined that the guy who shot Alex Pretti did something bad, then a lot of consequences are going to flow from that," Vance told the Mail. "We'll let that happen. But again. I don't think it's smart to prejudge the investigation. I don't think it's fair to those ICE officers."
Contributing: Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Vice President JD Vance is not sorry for Alex Pretti 'assassin' claim
