White House contradicts FBI director on protestors' right to bear arms

The White House said law‑abiding Americans have a constitutional right to carry firearms while protesting, a position that conflicted with comments from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel following the death of Alex Pretti.

The death of Alex Pretti has prompted public disagreement among federal officials about whether people may carry firearms while protesting. The White House press secretary said the president supports Second Amendment rights for law‑abiding citizens but also noted there is no constitutional right to obstruct lawful immigration enforcement. Other senior officials publicly argued that bringing a firearm to a protest was unlawful and warned of the risks of approaching law enforcement while armed. Federal agencies have opened investigations into the incident. What is reported: - Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said President Trump "absolutely" supports Second Amendment rights for law‑abiding citizens and clarified that Americans do not have a constitutional right to impede lawful immigration enforcement. - Alex Pretti was wrestled to the ground, pepper‑sprayed, and shot by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis while he filmed deportation operations; video shows agents seizing a holstered weapon before shots were fired. - Pretti was a concealed carry permit holder but reportedly was not carrying identification at the time; sources note failure to show a permit can carry a small fine. - Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel publicly said Pretti should not have come armed and described bringing a firearm to a protest as unlawful; an assistant U.S. attorney posted that approaching law enforcement while armed carried a high likelihood of a legally justified shooting. - Gun rights groups, including the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America, and some commentators defended the right to bear arms while protesting and criticized statements that would limit that right. Summary: The White House statement differed from comments by some Republican leaders and prompted reactions from both law enforcement officials and gun rights groups. Homeland Security and the FBI have announced investigations into the shooting, and those inquiries are ongoing. Undetermined at this time