U.S. Rep. James Comer speaks to media at the Fancy Farm Picnic on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony)
Kentucky Republican U.S. Rep. James Comer received praise from President Donald Trump following a weekend interview in which the congressman suggested the president consider removing federal immigration agents from Minnesota.
Comer, who represents Kentucky’s 1st Congressional District, criticized Democratic leaders in Minnesota, including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, for what he described as “getting people jacked up” about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in the state. He made the comments during Fox’s Sunday Morning Features with Maria Bartiromo. Comer contrasted the situation in Minneapolis with Washington, D.C., where Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration has worked with federal law enforcement and National Guard troops deployed by Trump to combat crime.
ICE agents fatally shot a 37-year-old man, Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis on Saturday. The shooting occurred roughly two weeks after an ICE officer shot another 37-year-old, Renee Good.
“If I were President Trump, I would almost think about, ‘OK, if the mayor and the governor are going to put our ICE officials in harm’s way, and there’s a chance of losing more innocent lives or whatever, then maybe go to another city and let the people of Minneapolis decide: Do we want to continue to have all of these illegals? Are we going to allow our governor, attorney general and mayor to get away with this?’” Comer said.
He went on to say that he believes Minnesotans would “rebel against their leadership” over illegal immigration.
Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday afternoon that Comer “was GREAT in his Interview” on Fox and said the congressman had “said it all” about Minnesota and other issues.
“Jamie is doing a fantastic job!” the president added.
On Monday, Trump announced that he would send U.S. border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota following Pretti’s death.
During the Fox interview, Bartiromo also asked Comer whether ICE officers saw that Pretti was armed during Saturday’s incident. The Kentucky Lantern’s sister outlet, the Minnesota Reformer, reported that a local official said the man who was shot was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry.
“I’ve watched that video dozens of times in slow motion. I’ve tried to determine whether he actually pulled a gun out or not,” Comer said. “I don’t know. I just know that the situation’s bad there.”
Comer also blamed Minnesota’s sanctuary policies for illegal immigration in the state.
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