John Fetterman Calls On Trump To 'Immediately Fire' Kristi Noem After Minneapolis Fallout

Democratic Senator John Fetterman called on President Donald Trump to fire Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as the agency continues to face backlash after the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

In a social media publication, Fetterman said he is making a "direct appeal" to Trump to dismiss Noem. "Americans have died. She is betraying DHS's core mission and trashing your border security legacy. DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary," he added.

Noem is taking intense heat from Democrats, and 120 of them in the House of Representatives have signed to co-sponsor an impeachment resolution against her.

Moreover, Sen. Jack Rosen of Nevada said on social media that Noem has been "an abject failure leading the Department of Homeland Security for the last year," adding that recent violent altercations involving immigration agents are proof that Noem has lost control of her department and staff.

"Kristi Noem and her department's latest attempt to mislead the American public regarding the brutal and unjustified killing of Alex Pretti is deeply shameful, and she must be impeached and removed from office immediately," Rosen said.

Following Pretti's death, Noem said Pretti approached Border Patrol agents with a handgun and "violently resisted" when officers tried to disarm him. Speaking to reporters, Noem also labeled the incident "domestic terrorism" and accused Minnesota officials of inciting violence against federal officers.

"This individual who came with weapons and ammunition to stop a law enforcement operation of federal law enforcement officers committed an act of domestic terrorism," Noem said during a news conference at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C. "That's the facts."

Noem, along with other members of the Trump administration, has denied any wrongdoing by federal immigration agents during the shooting, going as far as claiming Pretti was the one inciting violence. But according to video footage presented since his death, there is so far no evidence showing Pretti attacking officers.

However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt drew a contrast between Trump's assessment of the killing of Pretti and those of Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.

During a press briefing on Monday, a journalist noted that "Noem said Pretti committed an act of domestic terrorism" and "Stephen Miller labeled him a domestic terrorist." "Does the president agree?"

"I have not heard the president characterize Mr Pretti in that way. However, I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts and the investigation lead itself," Leavitt answered.

It is yet another show of daylight between the assessments. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Trump didn't answer when asked directly twice whether the officer that shot Pretti had done the right thing. "We're looking, we're reviewing everything and will come out with a determination," he said.