Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was “fomenting chaos” following the fatal shooting of a man by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, arguing the unrest was being driven by state officials and protesters rather than federal enforcement actions.
Bessent made the remarks in an interview Sunday on ABC News’ This Week when asked about the death of an American citizen shot by federal law enforcement during a protest connected to immigration enforcement operations.
“It’s a tragedy when anyone dies,” Bessent said, adding that “the situation on the ground there is being stirred up by Governor Walz.” He said the governor had declined to provide him with a state police security detail during a recent visit and accused state officials of encouraging disorder.
Bessent said the unrest was linked to investigations into what he described as “substantial waste, fraud and abuse,” which he said fell under the Treasury Department’s responsibilities. “He is fomenting chaos because there is substantial waste, fraud and abuse,” Bessent said. “My job as Treasury Secretary is to investigate that.”
Bessent: I'm sorry he is dead, but he did bring a semiautomatic weapon to what was supposed to be a peaceful protest.
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 25, 2026
Karl: There's no evidence that he brandished the gun whatsoever
Bessent: But he brought a gun!
Karl: We do have a second amendment in this country. pic.twitter.com/nMicFClKL8
Addressing the shooting, Bessent said the man who was killed had brought a firearm to what was intended to be a peaceful protest. “He did bring a 9 millimeter semi-automatic weapon with two cartridges,” Bessent said. He also claimed that “paid agitators” were inflaming tensions and said the governor had not adequately contained the situation.
Host Jonathan Karl noted there was no evidence the man had brandished the weapon and said reporting indicated he had been disarmed before the shooting. Bessent rejected that characterization and said carrying a firearm to a protest was inappropriate.
“I’ve been to a protest,” Bessent said. “I didn’t bring a gun. I brought a billboard.”
The comments came as public reaction to the Minneapolis shooting has fueled protests and intensified scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics. According to a CBS News/YouGov poll conducted Jan. 14–16, 61% of Americans said ICE’s operations were “too tough” when stopping and detaining people, and a slight majority said those operations made communities less safe. The same survey found 56% of respondents said the administration was not prioritizing dangerous criminals in its deportation efforts, and it showed sharp partisan differences in views of the Minneapolis shooting.
State officials said Minnesota would handle the investigation, as federal agencies provided only limited information about the incident.
