Trump signals Minnesota rollback after fatal shooting

The Minnesota governor has said Donald Trump is considering withdrawing some federal immigration officers, whose numbers have surged in the state, following a “productive” phone call with the president.

- ALEX WOODWARD

In a statement, Tim Walz said Mr Trump had agreed to “look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota” and to work with the state “in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals”. At least 2,000 federal officers have been brought into Minnesota in recent weeks to carry out Mr Trump’s deportation push.

The statement followed Mr Trump’s claim on Truth Social that he is on a “similar wavelength” to the governor, as outrage grew in the aftermath of another fatal shooting in Minneapolis, where federal officers shot and killed a 37-year-old demonstrator on Saturday.

It appears to reflect a reduction in tensions following months of threats against Mr Walz and other Democratic officials whom the administration is investigating for allegedly criminally obstructing immigration enforcement in the state.

Mr Trump said Governor Walz had called “with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota”. “It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength,” wrote Mr Trump. He said that his border czar Tom Homan would be calling Mr Walz, “and that what we are looking for are any and all criminals that they have in their possession”.

“The Governor, very respectfully, understood that, and I will be speaking to him in the near future,” he added. “He was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I!”