Former president Joe Biden sharply criticized the federal government’s handling of recent shootings in Minneapolis, saying the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good run counter to core American principles and calling for thorough, transparent investigations as protesters and officials continue to grapple with the aftermath of the incidents.
In a statement released Tuesday, Biden framed the unrest in Minnesota as a betrayal of fundamental national values. He said the United States is not “a nation that guns down our citizens in the street,” nor one that “allows our citizens to be brutalized for exercising their constitutional rights” or “tramples the 4th Amendment and tolerates our neighbors being terrorized.” He praised residents of Minnesota for their resilience, saying they had “stood strong — helping community members in unimaginable circumstances, speaking out against injustice when they see it, and holding our government accountable to the people.” Biden wrote that Minnesotans had “reminded us all what it is to be American” and that they “have suffered enough at the hands of this Administration.”
What has unfolded in Minneapolis this past month betrays our most basic values as Americans. We are not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street. We are not a nation that allows our citizens to be brutalized for exercising their constitutional rights. We are not a…
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 27, 2026
In his statement, Biden said violence and terror have no place in the United States, “especially when it’s our own government targeting American citizens.” He stressed that no single person, “not even a President,” could erase the values of the nation if Americans stand up and speak out together. He called for “full, fair, and transparent investigations into the deaths of the two Americans who lost their lives in the city they called home,” and he and former first lady Jill Biden said they were sending strength to the families and communities mourning Pretti and Good.
Biden’s remarks came amid widespread protests following two fatal shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. On January 24, officials said a U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and killed 37-year-old intensive care nurse Alex Pretti during an enforcement operation. Federal authorities described the shooting as self-defense after Pretti allegedly approached with a handgun, but bystander videos showed him holding a phone and not a weapon before being pepper-sprayed and pinned to the ground. The incident followed the earlier death of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who was shot during a separate enforcement action earlier in the month. These events sparked unrest and drew criticism from local and national figures.
Biden’s comments reflect longstanding themes from his presidency, including a focus on protecting constitutional rights, supporting peaceful protest and emphasizing accountability in law enforcement. Throughout his time in office, he has repeatedly framed governance around upholding democratic norms and civil liberties, positioning those priorities as central to national identity and unity. The former president’s remarks join a chorus of critiques from other former Democratic leaders and commentators who have said recent events in Minneapolis highlight broader concerns about civil rights and federal authority.
His statement adds to the ongoing national conversation about the balance between federal law enforcement actions and citizens’ rights, coming as Minneapolis and other cities continue to respond to the shootings with protests, calls for oversight and demands for change.
