Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin avoided directly answering whether the department is “backtracking” on its narrative that Minneapolis shooting victim Alex Pretti was a “domestic terrorist.”

Appearing Tuesday on News’ “America’s Newsroom,” host Dana Perino asked McLaughlin the question after playing a clip of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem referring to Pretti, who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents over the weekend, as a “domestic terrorist” to reporters on Saturday.

In the clip, Noem argues that Pretti came to “stop a police operation” without providing any evidence, adding, “Those are the facts.”

McLaughlin responded: “That situation we’ve seen on the ground in Minneapolis is a highly coordinated campaign of violence against our law enforcement. Your viewers have seen the images.”

Stating that “in this case we saw an individual who was armed,” he continued, “he had a physical altercation with authorities, he was obstructing a federal operation, which is a federal crime.”

Following Pretti’s murder, the Trump administration has repeatedly alleged that federal agents acted in self-defense. Noem told reporters at Saturday’s news conference that Loans “They attacked those officers” even though videos of the incident and sworn statements circulated contradicting DHS claims.

Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin (left) dodged a question about whether the department supports DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's statement that Alex Pretti was a
Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin (left) dodged a question about whether the department supports DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s statement that Alex Pretti was a “domestic terrorist.”

Getty Images/X

“The Department of Homeland Security works every day to ensure we provide the American people with fast and accurate information and we will continue to do so,” McLaughlin continued.

Perino then tried to intervene, saying, “Can you wait?” as McLaughlin finished speaking.

“So you’re standing around calling him a domestic terrorist?” the News host asked directly.

McLaughlin dodged the question.

“We’ll let this investigation be led by Homeland Security investigators, the FBI supporting it, and CBP also conducting a separate internal investigation, Dana,” he responded.

“Okay, so I guess that’s it,” Perino responded.