During a wide-ranging interview with NBC News anchor Tom Llamas on Wednesday, February 4, President Donald Trump touched on several controversial topics, including his administration’s immigration policies and his own cognitive function. The discussion took an unexpected turn when Trump reflected on the recent deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis.
The 79-year-old former president acknowledged that his immigration enforcement approach “might need a softer touch” following the tragic shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37, last month. “I learned that maybe we could use a little bit of a softer touch. But you still have to be tough,” Trump said. “We’re dealing with really hard criminals. But look, I’ve called the people. I’ve called the governor. I’ve called the mayor. Spoke to ‘em. Had great conversations with them. And then I see them ranting and raving out there. Literally as though a call wasn’t made.”
Later in the conversation, Trump referred to the incident as “bad publicity,” saying, "It's bad. I hate it. I hate even talking about it. Two people out of tens of thousands, okay, and you get bad publicity." He also highlighted his administration’s enforcement efforts, claiming, “Nobody talks about all of the murderers that were taken out of our country. They don't talk about but it was too amazing. We have the smallest trucks as an example. We've been very tough on the waters.”
Read more on Trump being slammed for a sexist rant and his plans for a potential third term. The president also praised top model Melania Trump and commented on international relations, including claims that Putin kept his word.
The comment about “the waters” prompted Llamas to seek clarification. Trump appeared to refer to drug interdiction operations off the coast of Venezuela, saying, “The waters where we knock out boats. We've been very tough on the waters, and soon, you know, pretty much overall, if you look at the waters where we knock out boats.” The sudden shift in topics drew widespread online attention, with viewers expressing confusion and criticism. Some social media users called the comments “deflective” and “lacking accountability,” while others questioned the relevance of Venezuelan drug operations to domestic immigration enforcement.
On the same day as the NBC interview, U.S. border czar Tom Homan announced the withdrawal of 700 federal immigration agents from Minnesota. Trump confirmed the move, stating, “But it didn’t come from me because I just wanted to do it,” while also emphasizing ongoing efforts to remove undocumented immigrants he described as criminals or drug dealers. He additionally repeated a claim about 25 million undocumented immigrants entering the U.S. under the Biden administration though official Customs and Border Protection data shows that roughly 7.4 million crossed outside legal checkpoints during that period.
Trump also recently sent a chilling threat to Iran and was highlighted in a Fox News halt incident. His comments have sparked widespread debate, alongside coverage of his creepy Valentine’s Day email and Melania Trump’s documentaries.
Overall, the interview underscores Trump’s continued combative and inconsistent messaging on immigration, federal enforcement, and accountability, particularly following the Minneapolis shootings. Public reactions show growing concern about leadership, empathy, and the role of federal agencies in sensitive situations involving American citizens.
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