California Governor Gavin Newsoms office forcefully rebuked United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Sunday, rejecting her description of the fatal Minneapolis shooting and calling into question the federal account of what occurred.
At a press briefing, Noem described the shooting — in which a 37‑year‑old Minneapolis man was killed by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation — as a situation in which “an individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement.” Her remarks echoed assertions from Department of Homeland Security officials that federal officers fired “defensive shots” after an armed suspect approached U.S. Border Patrol agents, according to a transcript of her remarks and official statements.
In response, Newsom dismissed Noem’s characterization, saying, “Everyone knows you have a pathological inability to tell the truth.” The governor’s comment directly challenged Noem’s framing of the encounter and reflected growing skepticism among Democratic leaders about the federal narrative surrounding the incident.
Everyone knows you have a pathological inability to tell the truth. https://t.co/idkNgxM3cp
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) January 24, 2026
The shooting on January 24 unfolded during a period of heightened federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, part of a broader Trump administration crackdown that has deployed thousands of agents to the city and drawn repeated protests. Federal law enforcement said the man approached with a 9 mm handgun and two magazines, and that agents attempted to disarm him before shots were fired. DHS released images of the firearm and claimed a dangerous confrontation.
Local authorities and independent reporting have underscored deep divisions over what actually occurred. Critics, including community members and civil liberties groups, have questioned the federal account and pointed to video circulating online that they say contradicts parts of the government’s narrative.
The suspect reportedly shot dead by federal agents today in Minneapolis drew a gun on them and defensive shots were fired, authorities say
— Border Hawk (@BorderHawkNews) January 24, 2026
Nonetheless, expect increased unrest in the Twin Cities starting immediately
Monitoring the situation . . .
pic.twitter.com/quELjjtAxA
The incident was the latest in a series of federal agent‑involved shootings in Minneapolis this month, following the highly controversial killing of Renée Good by an ICE agent on January 7 and another shooting earlier this month. These events have ignited protests, with many Minneapolis residents and local officials calling for federal agents to withdraw.
Noem’s comments came amid her broader defense of the DHS enforcement surge, which she and other Homeland Security officials have said is necessary to address violent crime associated with illegal immigration. Newsom’s rejection of her description highlights the intensifying political and public relations battle over how these incidents are understood and portrayed.
As protests continue and debate over federal‑local cooperation in Minneapolis escalates, the clash between Newsom and Noem reflects broader national tensions over immigration enforcement, public safety, and trust in official narratives — with competing accounts from federal authorities and local officials shaping public discourse.
