by Will Espero
Anyone who believes the killing and murder of Alex Jeffrey Pretti was justified is a MAGA member, a Trump loyalist, and/or a Republican extremist.
Based on all the videos and angles of the shooting I have seen, there was no way that Alex, an ICU nurse with the Veterans Administration, was a threat to the cowardly, angry ICE agents.
Many others who have seen the videos and have come to the same conclusion.
Alex did have a legally permitted gun on his person, but it was never brandished as the Trump administration has stated. He was not at the location to massacre ICE agents as was reported, and the lies of the Trump administration are offensive and disgusting.
Those who believe the lies are close-minded, not very bright, and are a sad representation of our society.
I acknowledge there was a previous video of Alex Pretti yelling at ICE agents, kicking an ICE vehicle, and breaking a tail light. This incident happened about a week before Pretti’s murder, and this incident in no way should be used to justify the shooting of Pretti.
The day Pretti was shot, he was actually going to the assistance of a woman who had been aggressively pushed to the ground by an ICE agent. He even had his cell phone in his hand.
Alex Pretti and Renee Good, another murder victim from Minneapolis of the Trump administration, must have justice.
If these killings are swept under the rug, the Trump administration will be equal to the dictatorships of Juan Peron of Argentina, Adolf Hitler of Germany, and Joseph Stalin of Russia.
Some may think I’m exaggerating, spewing rhetoric, and being overly zealous in my thoughts, but this is the United States of America 2026, and these gestapo-like tactics, intimidation, and savagery are unthinkable and unbelievable.
Donald Trump has turned the USA into a nation where other countries are now warning their citizens about the USA’s alarming actions and anti-immigrant policies and sentiment.
Many of our allies overseas have condemned the Minneapolis shootings, and at this point in time, I do not think Trump will overcome his mistakes and errors.
I believe these shootings have turned the tide against the administration, and even Republicans are now abandoning the sinking ship Trump is steering.
Time will tell if the truth is revealed, and with the midterm elections this year, Trump and the Republican Party are looking at a devastating defeat at the polls because of the chaos being created by ICE and the economic failure of Trump’s policies.
The release of the Epstein files is another firestorm that is burning out of control for the Trump presidency as the release of the Epstein files will be very damaging for Donald and Melania Trump.
The Trump presidency and legacy are at stake, and other high-profile individuals will also be outed and exposed in various degrees.
Many of us believe Trump is protecting pedophiles, and doing everything in his power to avoid the inevitable.
It’s possible that the truth may place JD Vance in the presidency as he takes over prior to the 2028 presidential election because Trump may either resign or be forced out due to public outrage and condemnation. Who knows? We’ll see.
Some have asked why Biden or Obama didn’t release the files, and there are simple answers to this question.
First, the Epstein files were a part of many court proceedings and appeals and could not be publicly shared.
Secondly, Congress just recently passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November of 2025 so with Congressional approval, the time to release is now.
Many believe what Trump is doing on a daily and weekly basis is to detract from the Epstein files.
Trump is certainly afraid of information becoming public, and he has already stated allegations and comments about him are not true. He calls the Epstein files a Democratic hoax. (Remember, Jeffrey Epstein was found guilty of his crimes).
Whatever one believes, the chaos and turmoil currently happening in our country has created an environment where our federal government is no longer trusted by many.
Congress must gain more control over the intimidation and thuggery of Trump’s ICE agents, and their current tactics must stop. The courts have been helpful in a few cases, but more must be done.
If Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress drag their feet, more innocent citizens will be killed needlessly in American cities, and the Trump presidency will continue its downward spiral.
The state of our country is in Donald Trump’s hands, and the ensuing crash and destruction will certainly get worse before it gets better.
WILL ESPERO retired from the Hawaii legislature after serving 19 years in the state House of Representatives and state Senate. He is currently a novelist, poet, and supporter of the arts. Lingering Thoughts provides a glimpse of his perspective on current events and issues.
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