Melania Trump breaks silence amid protests against ICE crackdown in Minnesota: ‘I’m against the…’

First Lady Melania Trump called for unity in Minneapolis amid protests against ICE, urging demonstrators to protest peacefully.

Updated on: Jan 27, 2026, 19:14:44 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday emphasized the need for “unity” in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and encouraged anti-ICE protesters to “demonstrate peacefully”.

Melania Trump stressed the importance of unity in Minneapolis and encouraged peaceful protests against ICE. (Bloomberg)

Amid uproar over killing of two US citizens by federal agents in Minnesota, Melania stated in an interview with Fox News’ “Fox & Friends”, “We need to unify. I’m calling for unity.”

“I know my husband, the president, had a great call yesterday with the governor and the mayor, and they’re working together to make it peaceful and without riots,” Melania stated. “I’m against the violence.”

“Please, if we protest, protest in peace and we need to unify in these times,” the First Lady added.

Her appeal came a day after President Donald Trump disclosed that he had engaged in “very good” conversations with Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, in light of the rising violence following the death of protester Alex Pretti at the hands of ICE agents.

Also Read: Is Gregory Bovino blocked from using social media? All we know about DHS action on Border Patrol Chief

Trump sends Tom Homan to Minnesota

Trump also mentioned that he is dispatching White House Border Czar Tom Homan to Minnesota, which he stated Walz is “happy” about.

A representative from Walz’s office informed KSTP that the conversation was “productive.”

The spokesperson said that Walz requested Trump to scale back the immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota and permit independent inquiries into several shootings of Minnesotans by federal agents.

A federal judge is currently considering arguments regarding whether she should temporarily suspend the immigration crackdown in Minnesota, which has resulted in the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal agents.

Earlier this month, the state of Minnesota, along with the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, just five days after Renee Good was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.

The recent shooting of Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol officer on Saturday has intensified the urgency of the case.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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