The Daily Trump Changes Course in Minneapolis
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Jan 28, 2026 
Zolan Kanno-Youngs, NYT White House correspondent with homeland security expertise, and Tyler Pager, NYT White House reporter on federal policy, break down Trump's sudden tone change after Alex Preddy’s killing. They discuss White House damage control, personnel shifts, bipartisan pushback, phone calls with Minnesota leaders, and whether softer words meant real operational pullback.
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Weekend Viewing Shaped Trump's Response
- Trump watched weekend coverage of the Minneapolis shooting closely from the Oval Office and flipped through channels.
- He saw footage framing the incident as a government killing contradicted by administration claims, which alarmed him politically.
Political Optics Drove The Rhetorical Pivot
- The Minneapolis backlash forced President Trump to change tone because the optics were hurting his political message.
- Zolan Kanno-Yngs and Tyler Pager say the pivot was driven by politics more than immediate concern for the victims.
Personnel Moves Signaled A Pivot
- The administration made visible personnel shifts: Tom Homan was sent and Greg Bovino was pulled from Minneapolis.
- These moves signaled a tentative effort to distance Trump from the most aggressive operatives and messages.