US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has called the shooting of Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti a “very sad situation”, as he resisted pressure to sack his Homeland Security chief.

Trump said today that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem would remain in her job, despite a backlash over a fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in the Minnesota city on Saturday.

“No,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if Noem would step down after the killing of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti, adding that she was doing a “very good job.”

Demonstrators yesterday march through Park City, Utah during a protest opposing ICE, held in response to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Trump also rejected the “assassin” label used by a top aide to describe Minnesota shooting victim Pretti, but said that people could not go to protests with guns.

“No,” Trump replied, when asked if he agreed with deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller’s description of Pretti.

“That being said, you can’t have guns, you can’t walk in with guns, you can’t do that, but it’s a very unfortunate incident,” added Trump, referring to licensed gun owner Pretti carrying a firearm that was taken off him before he was shot.

Pressure on ICE

On Sunday, Trump sent his top border enforcer to Minneapolis and struck a conciliatory note in a bid to tamp down nationwide outrage over the second killing of a US citizen protesting militarized immigration raids this month.

The White House was scrambling as video of the latest shooting went viral, prompting street protests, criticism from former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and, increasingly, from within Trump’s Republican Party.

Tom Homan has reportedly replaced the border patrol agent who has been leading the Trump administrations aggressive campaign of raids in the city, Gregory Bovino.

Bovino had become the face of the federal presence in Minneapolis, frequently courting media attention and confronting protesters on the street directly.

In a recent public appearance he wore in a long, army green coat that prompted comparisons to Nazi attire, from people online and in the German media.

Homan’s new role appears to acknowledge the administration has run into political damage, with polls showing a majority of Americans disapprove of the often brutal crackdown by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.