By Trendsetter Tribune 
Some Fox News viewers were stunned this week after longtime Trump defender Maria Bartiromo appeared to openly question the federal government’s account of the killing of Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old ICU nurse shot dead by ICE officers in Minneapolis.
During an interview with Rep. James Comer, Bartiromo sounded visibly emotional as she challenged claims made by the Department of Homeland Security, which alleged that Pretti intended to “do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.”
“Let’s be clear,” Bartiromo said on air. “We do not know if there was any pushback from this individual who was armed. We do not have evidence that he was waving a gun, doing anything to threaten Border Patrol.”
She emphasized that video from the scene shows Pretti holding a phone, recording the incident, as he was tackled by agents before being shot.
“He had his phone, and he was recording,” she said. “That’s what he was doing.”
Comer responded by shifting blame to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, arguing that local leadership inflamed tensions and failed to cooperate with federal authorities. But for many viewers, Bartiromo’s tone — and her willingness to push back — stood out far more than Comer’s defense.
On social media, reactions were sharply divided. Some praised Bartiromo for finally breaking ranks.
“Wow… Maria Bartiromo seems legitimately upset about the killing of Alex Pretti,” journalist Aaron Rupar wrote. “It’s very rare for her to be offsides with the Trump administration.”
Others were less forgiving, criticizing her past support for the administration and questioning why this case prompted concern when others had not.
Still, for many Fox viewers, the moment felt significant. A host who has long echoed administration talking points appeared, at least briefly, to draw a line — signaling that even within conservative media, the killing of Alex Pretti has unsettled the usual script.