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By Jack Beresford
Senior Reporter
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A social media post attributed to President Donald Trump saying "only criminals carry guns" has been fact-checked as fake by the National Rifle Association.
Writing on X, the NRA issued a "FAKE NEWS ALERT" in response to a widely shared social-media post claiming to have come from the @realDonaldTrump Truth Social account.
The post said: "HE HAD A GUN, ONLY CRIMINALS CARRY GUNS ON OUR STREETS, WE NEED LAW AND ORDER. Thank you for your attention on this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP."
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The NRA shared a screenshot of the message alongside a warning: "The latest alleged post circulating out there is not real." Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment.
Why It Matters
Trump has been perceived as an ally of the NRA since his 2016 presidential campaign, when the association backed him to the tune of a reported $30 million. The NRA formally endorsed the Republican once again in 2024 at its annual convention in Dallas. In return, Trump vowed to the association that "no one will lay a finger on your firearms" if reelected.
However, this relationship appears to have come under strain in the wake of the killing of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, who was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis on January 24. The Trump administration has faced significant criticism over how officials responded to the shooting—including from the NRA.
This latest intervention regarding the fake social media post suggests the NRA is keeping a close eye on Trump’s response to the shooting.
What To Know
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Pretti "approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun." However, videos verified by various news outlets show Pretti was holding a phone in his right hand, with nothing in his left hand before he was shot, contradicting those claims.
Pretti was legally conceal-carrying a handgun at the time of his death. He was a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry. Records reflect no serious criminal history, according to authorities and public records cited by local media.
Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, said that, "if you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you," adding, "Don’t do it."
The NRA branded Essayli’s remarks "dangerous and wrong," and urged public officials to refrain from broad generalizations and to wait for the outcome of a full investigation into Alex Pretti’s death. The response represented a rare instance of the NRA speaking out against the Trump administration.
In the post shared to X, the NRA urged social media users to be vigilant of "fake news" online in the wake of Pretti’s death. "As bad actors among us attempt to further the divide our country, it is now more important than ever to be vigilant against AI-generated content meant to mislead Americans," the association said. "Don’t fall for it."
The post has been viewed over 80,000 times.
Though the remarks in the fake social-media post have been debunked, Trump has been critical of Pretti’s decision to carry a gun to the Minneapolis protest he was killed at. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the president said: "I don't like any shooting. I don't like it. But I don't like it when somebody goes into a protest and he's got a very powerful, fully loaded gun with two magazines loaded up with bullets also. That doesn't play good either."
The NRA has yet to respond to these remarks. Newsweek has contacted the NRA for comment.
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What People Are Saying
Bill Essayli, the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, said: "If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you. Don’t do it!"
The NRA replied to Essayli’s remarks: "This sentiment from the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California is dangerous and wrong. Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalizations and demonizing law-abiding citizens."
The NRA urged caution on social media in response to a fake Trump Truth Social post: "As bad actors among us attempt to further the divide our country, it is now more important than ever to be vigilant against AI-generated content meant to mislead Americans. Don’t fall for it."
President Donald Trump said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal: "I don't like any shooting. I don't like it. But I don't like it when somebody goes into a protest and he's got a very powerful, fully loaded gun with two magazines loaded up with bullets also. That doesn't play good either."
Representative Thomas Massie, Kentucky Republican, said on X: "Carrying a firearm is not a death sentence, it's a Constitutionally protected God-given right, and if you don't understand this you have no business in law enforcement or government."
Michael and Susan Pretti, Alex Pretti's parents, said: "The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs."
What Happens Next
Republican lawmakers, including Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, have joined Democratic officials in calling for a comprehensive, independent investigation into the shooting, adding bipartisan pressure for accountability.
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