Right-wing podcaster Megyn Kelly ignited a wave of online outrage after a series of comments about the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37‑year‑old Minneapolis ICU nurse killed by U.S. Border Patrol agents during a federal immigration enforcement operation. Critics widely characterized her remarks as callous — even “evil” — sparking widespread backlash across social media platforms.
The controversy stems from Kelly’s response to the January 24 shooting, which left Pretti dead after he was pinned and shot by federal agents while he was filming and allegedly intervening in a confrontation near an ICE operation. Video circulating online appears to show Pretti holding a cellphone before the fatal shots were fired, contradicting early official claims about his threat level.
On her SiriusXM show and in posts on X, Kelly explicitly refused to express sympathy for Pretti’s death. “I know I’m supposed to feel sorry for Alex Pretti, but I don’t,” she said, asserting that she avoided harm simply by staying “inside and out of their operations.” She went on to argue that people should protest “peacefully, on the sidewalk” rather than “interfering” with law enforcement, framing any direct involvement as escalating risk.
Kelly’s rhetoric didn’t sit well with many online users. On X, one commenter dismissed her stance as a “totally moronic take after ICE just executed a man in the street cartel style,” while others mocked her framing of the situation and pressed her to acknowledge the gravity of a U.S. citizen’s death.
Public reaction extended beyond X commenters. On Reddit, furious users criticized Kelly’s lack of empathy and questioned the logic of her position, highlighting that many ordinary Americans can’t simply stay “in their homes” to avoid dangers in public life — a point that resonated amid broader debate over public safety and federal enforcement.
Critics also noted that Kelly’s commentary echoed a broader pattern of right‑wing media figures doubling down on federal enforcement even as video evidence and eyewitness accounts raised serious questions about Pretti’s actions and the force used against him. Online discussions referenced the controversial official messaging from DHS and other Trump administration officials that labeled Pretti a threat, claims that were undermined by footage widely shared on social media.
The backlash wasn’t limited to social media snark. Religious commentator Michael Steele quoted scripture in condemning Kelly’s comments, saying she chose “to be cruel instead of compassionate… to be evil in spirit instead of empathetic.” Others invoked moral and religious language to describe the emotional tone of her remarks.
The outrage over Kelly’s comments is part of a larger online and political conversation about federal immigration enforcement practices in Minneapolis, including protests, legal challenges, and bipartisan scrutiny following Pretti’s death and the earlier killing of Renee Good by another federal agent.
For many on social platforms, the label “evil” wasn’t hyperbole but a reflection of deeper frustration with a media figure who, in their view, dismissed the loss of a human life while failing to grapple with the complex circumstances that led to it.
Watch the clip below:
"I know I'm supposed to feel sorry for Alex Pretti but I don't. You know why I wasn't shot by Border Patrol this weekend? Because I kept my ass inside and out of their operations."
– @megynkelly pic.twitter.com/7GdnHRYvZf
— The Megyn Kelly Show (@MegynKellyShow) January 27, 2026
