Minneapolis live updates: DOJ launches investigation into Pretti killing, Deputy AG Blanche says

President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News that the administration is "going to de-escalate a little bit" in Minneapolis.

However, he rejected the characterization that the change in plans was a "pullback," and spoke about Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino.

"Bovino is very good, but he's a pretty out there kind of a guy. And in some cases, that's good. Maybe it wasn't good here," he said, before claiming, without evidence, that the recent protests in Minnesota have been populated with "paid insurrectionists" and "paid agitators."

President Donald Trump was asked by ABC News' Rachel Scott if he had heard comments from this weekend from his officials who assessed Alex Pretti as a "domestic terrorist" or an "assassin."

"Well, I haven't heard that, but he shouldn't have been carrying a gun," he responded while talking with reporters in Iowa.

Earlier in the day, a reporter told him that Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller labeled the nurse an "assassin." Trump responded, "No," when the reporter asked him if he thought Pretti "was acting as an assassin in Minneapolis."

The president also addressed a question by Scott about pulling federal officers out of Minnesota.

"We'll do whatever's appropriate," he said.

President Donald Trump was asked if the killed Minneapolis protester was an "assassin" as a key aide has claimed and the president answered "no."

The president added, however, that protesters "can't have guns" as Pretti did and "it's just a very unfortunate incident." Trump has said he wants the death investigated.

President Donald Trump spoke with reporters before departing for a political rally in Iowa and was asked if DHS Secretary Kristi Noem would step down.

On Saturday, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller on social media described Pretti as an "assassin" who "tried to murder federal agents." Vice President JD Vance shared the post on X as well.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a series of X posts that he met with Border Czar Tom Homan on Tuesday, and called the conversation "productive."

Frey called on Homan to end Operation Metro Surge and said he made it clear to Homan that "Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws."

"I shared with Mr. Homan the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers," he said.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray