Senator Markwayne Mullin, chosen by former President Donald Trump to head the Department of Homeland Security after the dismissal of Secretary Kristi Noem, retracted controversial remarks he made on Wednesday concerning Alex Pretti.

Pretti, a Minneapolis resident, was fatally shot by Customs and Border Protection agents, and Mullin had previously described him as a ‘deranged individual’ following the contentious incident.

During his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Mullin addressed these remarks, retracting them but stopping short of offering a full apology.

“Those words should probably have been taken back,” Mullin admitted during the hearing. “I shouldn’t have said that, and as secretary, I wouldn’t.”

He highlighted that the investigation into Pretti’s death is still in progress.

“As I mentioned, sometimes I will make mistakes, and I’ll take responsibility for them,” the Oklahoma Republican explained. “In this case, I reacted too quickly and spoke without having all the facts. That’s my error, and it won’t happen when I serve as secretary.”

Mullin was then asked if he regretted that statement and he answered in the affirmative.

‘I already said that, yes, sir,’ Mullin answered. 

Senator Markwayne Mullin retracted statements he made in the aftermath of Minneapolis man Alex Pretti’s death in late January during a Senate confirmation hearing for Department of Homeland Security secretary on Wednesday 

Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti was killed in late January by Custom and Border Patrol agents prompting widespread outcry against President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies. If confirmed, Mullin will replace outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem 

When asked if he wanted to apologize to the family of Pretti, Mullin reiterated that he regretted his word choice. 

‘Is that the same as an apology?’ asked Democratic Senator Gary Peters. 

‘I haven’t seen the investigation. We’ll let the investigation go through and if I’m proven wrong, then I will absolutely,’ Mullin replied. 

Noem’s tenure at the top of DHS was rocky, especially after the death of Pretti in late January and before him, Renee Good, another Minneapolis resident, who was shot and killed earlier in the month.

The DHS secretary had quickly referred to Pretti – who was armed with a legally permitted gun when he was killed – as a ‘domestic terrorist,’ despite witnesses at the scene describing the incident much differently. 

Both Good and Pretti were American citizens.   

President Donald Trump handled the ordeal by sending border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis. 

He announced on March 5 that Noem would be leaving her role, saying at the same time that Mullin was his pick to lead the agency. 

Posters with images of Alex Pretti (left) and Renee Good (right) displayed in Minneapolis in late January after Pretti was killed. The deaths of both US citizens were brought up by Democratic senators on Wednesday during Senator Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation hearing 

Mullin was elected to the US Senate in 2023 in a special election. 

Oklahoma is a deep red state, so Republicans won’t have to fear the seat flipping to a Democrat once Mullin is confirmed. 

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal also asked Mullin about comments he made in the aftermath of Good’s death, as he had answered ‘absolutely’ when asked if the fatal shooting was justified.

‘Senator, it’s very clear that an officer had to make a split decision in that case, as the car was running toward him and did strike him. At that point, that car becomes a lethal weapon,’ Mullin answered. 

He pointed out that another officer was ‘obviously giving her verbal commands.’

‘You’re saying you do not regret that statement,’ Blumenthal then asked. 

Mullin answered that ‘the investigation is going on.’  

‘There is no investigation, senator,’ Blumenthal responded, claiming that the Trump administration blocked state and local authorities from investigating Good’s death.

Mullin pointed out that the Department of Justice would handle that. 

However, the DOJ has already blocked a civil rights probe into the shooting.

‘My understanding is that there is, I will find out if I’m able to get confirmed,’ Mullin also said.