Newsmax Host's Controversial Remarks on Fatal Minneapolis Shooting Draw Fire
In a segment that has ignited significant controversy, Newsmax host Greg Kelly offered a defense of immigration agents involved in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, suggesting that a cellphone could be mistaken for a firearm. During the Monday episode of "Greg Kelly Reports," Kelly displayed an image of Pretti holding his phone shortly before he was shot on Saturday, arguing that the device might look "a little bit" like a gun under certain circumstances.
Questionable Comparisons and Defensive Tactics
Kelly proceeded to hold his own smartphone sideways, pointing it in the air as if it were a weapon, despite the fact that Pretti was never recorded holding his phone in such a manner in the circulated footage of the incident. "Does that look like a gun?" Kelly asked his audience. "I think it does a little bit. It's a phone. It's black, like most phones. That's crazy stuff." This demonstration has been widely criticized as misleading and insensitive, given the tragic outcome of the encounter.
Blaming the Victim and Disturbing Analogies
Further escalating the controversy, Kelly condemned Pretti for his presence at a protest, calling it a "very, very, very stupid thing." In a particularly shocking moment, he played a clip describing Pretti as an "avid outdoorsman," "competitive cyclist," and former Boy Scout, then used those descriptions to draw a comparison between the slain nurse and serial killer Dennis Lynn Rader, known as BTK. Kelly noted that Rader also enjoyed hunting and was seen as a family man, implying that positive traits do not preclude negative actions.
"I'm sorry, but I can't just pretend because you're dead, you're, like, this superior person," Kelly stated, adding that people often project positive qualities onto individuals they do not know. This analogy has been denounced as inappropriate and harmful, diverting attention from the circumstances of Pretti's death.
Broader Right-Wing Commentary on the Incident
Kelly was not alone in his criticism of Pretti. On the same day, podcaster Megyn Kelly told her listeners that she did not feel sorry for Pretti, attributing his death to his decision to be present during Border Patrol operations. "I know I'm supposed to feel sorry for Alex Pretti, but I don't. I don't. Do you know why I wasn't shot by Border Patrol this weekend? Because I kept my ass inside and out of their operations," she remarked. These comments reflect a broader trend of victim-blaming in some media circles, raising questions about accountability and sensitivity in public discourse.
The incident has sparked debates over media responsibility, the use of force by immigration agents, and the portrayal of victims in high-profile cases. As investigations continue, the fallout from these remarks underscores the need for careful and respectful reporting on such sensitive matters.
