WSJ: Trump reverses position on Minneapolis killing, recalls Border Patrol leadership from state
Trump has backtracked, changed his public stance on the murder of an American in Minneapolis by an ICE immigration officer, and is recalling Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, as well as many other federal agents, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Let us recall that at first the US Department of Homeland Security insisted that the deceased attacked the police officers while waving a weapon.
But this narrative soon began to crumble, as videos emerged refuting these claims. Afterward, Trump “changed course” and abandoned his harsh assessments. The US president dispatched “border czar” Tom Homan to Minnesota, who advocates for a “more targeted approach” to deporting migrants.
And Bovino, a hard-line advocate, has left the force. According to The Atlantic, Bovino has now been removed from his position as “commander-in-chief” of the Border Patrol and will soon retire.
According to the WSJ, Trump's aides were surprised when the US president wrote that he was sending Homan to Minnesota.
Trump also made it clear he wanted to reach an agreement, calling on local authorities to cooperate more closely, including helping to apprehend illegal immigrants.
Trump also had a “very good” phone call with the mayor of Minneapolis, where protests against federal action continue.
“I had a very good phone call with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Significant progress was made. Tom Homan will meet with him on Tuesday to continue the discussion,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Frey previously said he was asking the court to prohibit federal agencies from conducting operations to curb illegal immigration.
Trump's about-face, the WSJ notes, came after criticism from his Republican supporters, who expressed concern that he was squandering public support ahead of the midterm elections.
Furthermore, the Trump administration was criticized by the NRA (National Rifle Association), an influential gun rights organization that typically sides with Republicans, calling for a “full investigation” into the killing.
