In the hours after Alex Pretti was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on Saturday, President Donald Trump and senior aides quickly portrayed Pretti as a “gunman,” “domestic terrorist” and “would-be assassin.” But behind the scenes, Trump was already reassessing how the incident was unfolding publicly, according to two senior administration officials.

Throughout Saturday, Trump moved between the Oval Office and his private dining room, watching television coverage of the shooting and taking calls from lawmakers, aides and allies concerned about the political impact. Earlier, he had posted an image of Pretti’s legally owned Sig Sauer P320, calling him a “gunman” whose firearm was “loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go.”

As Trump watched footage of the fatal confrontation and subsequent news reports, he became increasingly unsettled by the optics, one senior official said.

“He doesn’t like chaos on his watch,” the official explained.

While Trump was not prepared to change the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement strategy, he began to recognize the need to alter its public presentation.

By Sunday night, Trump had decided to “reset” the messaging while keeping intact the mass-deportation campaign central to his 2024 election platform. His administration and Congress had already secured $170 billion in new funding for the Department of Homeland Security, including major expansions in detention, deportation operations and federal agent recruitment.

The internal shift  according to News men was described by 15 sources familiar with deliberations inside the administration, many speaking anonymously to discuss private conversations.

The stakes are high for Trump and Republicans, both in executing large-scale deportations and maintaining political support ahead of midterm elections. Some allies say altering the mission itself is not under consideration.

“The reality is, you can’t stop what you’re doing,” said a former White House official. “This is the whole point of ICE operating in these cities. Minnesota won’t be the last. Oregon was next. The operation wasn’t finished.”

On Monday, Trump initiated a leadership reshuffle in Minneapolis, removing Border Patrol commander-at-large Greg Bovino from the scene and replacing him with border czar Tom Homan, viewed internally as a steadier presence. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was effectively sidelined from direct operational oversight.

Trump also held phone calls with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey — both Democrats he has previously criticized — to discuss de-escalating tensions following the shooting.

The adjustments signal a tactical shift in presentation, even as the administration presses forward with its broader immigration enforcement agenda.