61% Of Voters Think The Trump Administration Has Not Given An Honest Account Of The Fatal Shooting Of Alex Pretti, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; 58% Of Voters Think DHS Secretary Kristi Noem Should Be Removed
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More than a week after nurse Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, 61 percent of voters think the Trump administration has not given an honest account of the incident and 25 percent think the Trump administration has given an honest account of the incident, with 14 percent not offering an opinion, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll of registered voters released today.
Democrats (93 - 2 percent) and independents (65 - 20 percent) think the Trump administration has not given an honest account of the incident, while Republicans (60 - 19 percent) think the Trump administration has given an honest account of the incident.
An overwhelming majority of voters (80 percent) think there should be an independent investigation into this shooting, while 15 percent don't think so.
"We need more facts and an independent investigation is the way to get them, say voters who cast doubt on the honesty of the account of how Alex Pretti ended up dead on a Minneapolis street," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
Seventy-eight percent of voters say they have seen video of the fatal shooting of Pretti by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, while 21 percent of voters say they have not seen video of the shooting. *Clarification: this should have said federal agents, not ICE agents.
Sixty-two percent of voters think the shooting was not justified, while 22 percent think it was justified, and 16 percent did not offer an opinion.
ICE
Fifty-nine percent of voters think the recent ICE-involved shootings in Minneapolis are a sign of broader problems in the way ICE is operating, while 32 percent think the shootings are isolated incidents.
When it comes to the way ICE is enforcing immigration laws, 34 percent of voters approve, while 63 percent disapprove.
This is a drop in approval from Quinnipiac University's January 13, 2026 poll when 40 percent approved and 57 percent disapproved.
Sixty percent of voters think ICE should withdraw from Minneapolis, while 36 percent think ICE should continue its operations in Minneapolis.
KRISTI NOEM
ICE is an agency within the Department of Homeland Security. Nearly 6 out of 10 voters (58 percent) think Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem should be removed from her job, while 34 percent think she should remain in her job.
"A strong no confidence vote for the beleaguered top cop at Homeland Security whose agency's job performance is considered dismal enough by voters that she should be let go," added Malloy.
PRESIDENT TRUMP
Thirty-seven percent of voters approve of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president, while 56 percent disapprove.
This compares to Quinnipiac University's January 14, 2026 poll when 40 percent approved and 54 percent disapproved.
When it comes to Trump's handling of the economy, 39 percent of voters approve, while 56 percent disapprove. In Quinnipiac University's January 14 poll, 42 percent approved and 53 percent disapproved.
When it comes to Trump's handling of immigration issues, 38 percent of voters approve, while 59 percent disapprove. This is a drop in approval from Quinnipiac University's December 17, 2025 poll when 44 percent approved and 54 percent disapproved.
When it comes to Trump's handling of foreign policy, 37 percent of voters approve, while 58 percent disapprove. In Quinnipiac University's January 14 poll, 41 percent approved and 56 percent disapproved.
TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICIES
Six in 10 voters (60 percent) think the Trump administration is being too harsh in its treatment of undocumented immigrants in the United States, 30 percent think the Trump administration is handling this about right, and 7 percent think the Trump administration is being too lenient in its treatment of undocumented immigrants in the United States.
Roughly half of voters (51 percent) think the Trump administration's approach to immigration is making the country less safe, 35 percent think it is making the country more safe, and 12 percent think the Trump administration's approach to immigration is not affecting it either way.
ICE FUNDING, MASKS, & BODY CAMERAS
Roughly half of voters (51 percent) think the federal government should provide less funding for ICE, 30 percent think the federal government should keep ICE funding at about its current level, and 14 percent think the federal government should provide more funding for ICE.
Ninety-two percent of voters think ICE agents should be required to wear body cameras, while 5 percent think they should not be required to wear body cameras.
Roughly six in 10 voters (61 percent) think ICE agents should not be permitted to wear masks or other face coverings, while 35 percent think ICE agents should be permitted to wear masks or other face coverings.
"Voters to ICE: Show us your faces and we want those body cameras worn," added Malloy.
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
Nearly 6 in 10 voters (59 percent) say they would prefer giving most undocumented immigrants in the United States a pathway to legal status, while 34 percent say they would prefer deporting most undocumented immigrants in the United States.
Forty-seven percent of voters say they know someone who is living in fear because of the Trump administration's deportation policies, while 51 percent say they do not know someone who is living in fear because of the Trump administration's deportation policies.
"A chilling survey of the 'American neighborhood' shows nearly half of us know someone who is afraid of being swept up by ICE," added Malloy.
1,191 self-identified registered voters nationwide were surveyed from January 29th - February 2nd with a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percentage points, including the design effect.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on probability-based samples using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Email poll@qu.edu or follow us on X @QuinnipiacPoll.
Poll Questions
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Question 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 37% 86% 3% 31% 45% 30% Disapprove 56 10 95 58 46 64 DK/NA 7 4 2 11 8 6 -
Question 1a. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president? COMBINED WITH: (If approve/disapprove q1) Do you strongly or somewhat approve/disapprove?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve strongly 29% 70% 2% 22% 35% 24% Approve smwht 8 15 1 8 10 6 Disapprove smwht 4 3 1 7 5 3 Disapprove strongly 52 6 93 51 42 61 DK/NA 7 5 3 11 9 6 -
Question 2. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very satisfied 14% 32% 2% 12% 19% 10% Smwht satisfied 20 42 2 20 23 17 Smwht dissatisfied 15 15 12 16 16 14 Very dissatisfied 49 10 83 51 40 57 DK/NA 2 2 1 - 2 1 -
Question 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling - the economy?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 39% 84% 4% 34% 48% 31% Disapprove 56 11 94 60 47 65 DK/NA 5 5 2 6 5 4 -
Question 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling - foreign policy?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 37% 83% 3% 31% 45% 30% Disapprove 58 13 95 63 49 67 DK/NA 5 4 2 6 6 4 -
Question 5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling - immigration issues?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 38% 87% 3% 31% 47% 30% Disapprove 59 10 96 65 50 67 DK/NA 3 4 1 4 3 3 -
Question 6. Would you say you are optimistic or pessimistic about freedom of speech being protected in the United States?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Optimistic 47% 78% 22% 46% 56% 39% Pessimistic 47 15 73 48 37 56 DK/NA 6 7 5 6 7 4 -
Question 7. Do you think the system of democracy in the United States is working, or not?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Working 41% 72% 17% 40% 49% 34% No 51 18 79 52 45 57 DK/NA 7 10 4 8 6 9 -
Question 8. If you had to choose, which would you prefer: giving most undocumented immigrants in the United States a pathway to legal status or deporting most undocumented immigrants in the United States?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Giving pathway 59% 19% 92% 61% 51% 66% Deporting 34 73 4 33 43 27 DK/NA 7 7 4 6 6 7 -
Question 9. In its treatment of undocumented immigrants in the United States, do you think the Trump administration is being: too harsh, too lenient, or handling this about right?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Too harsh 60% 14% 95% 68% 52% 68% Too lenient 7 15 1 5 11 3 About right 30 67 2 26 35 26 DK/NA 3 4 2 2 3 3 -
Question 10. Do you think the Trump administration's approach to immigration is making the country more safe, less safe, or is not affecting it either way?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More safe 35% 77% 4% 29% 43% 28% Less safe 51 9 85 54 42 59 Not affecting 12 12 11 13 13 11 DK/NA 2 2 - 4 2 2 -
Question 11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, is enforcing immigration laws?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 34% 77% 2% 28% 43% 25% Disapprove 63 17 97 68 54 70 DK/NA 4 5 1 4 3 4 -
Question 12. ICE is one of the agencies run by Kristi Noem, the secretary of Homeland Security. Do you think Noem should remain in her job or should be removed from her job?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Remain 34% 74% 5% 29% 41% 27% Removed 58 17 91 62 51 64 DK/NA 8 9 4 9 8 8 -
Question 13. As you may know, ICE agents fatally shot a man in Minneapolis named Alex Pretti in an incident on January 24th that was captured on video. Have you seen video of this incident, or not?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Have seen 78% 74% 82% 79% 84% 73% No 21 26 17 21 16 26 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - 1 -
Question 14. As far as you are aware, do you think this shooting was justified, or not justified?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Justified 22% 55% 2% 16% 28% 17% Not justified 62 20 94 66 55 68 DK/NA 16 25 4 18 17 15 -
Question 15. Do you think the Trump administration has given an honest account of the incident, or don't you think so?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Honest 25% 60% 2% 20% 29% 22% No 61 19 93 65 54 67 DK/NA 14 21 5 15 17 11 -
Question 16. Do you think there should be an independent investigation into this shooting, or don't you think so?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Should 80% 56% 96% 85% 78% 82% No 15 36 3 12 17 14 DK/NA 4 8 1 4 5 4 -
Question 17. Do you think the recent ICE-involved shootings in Minneapolis: are isolated incidents or are a sign of broader problems in the way ICE is operating?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Isolated incidents 32% 67% 6% 28% 38% 27% Broader problems 59 17 92 63 52 65 DK/NA 9 17 2 9 10 8 -
Question 18. Do you think ICE should withdraw from Minneapolis or continue its operations in Minneapolis?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Withdraw 60% 18% 94% 64% 52% 68% Continue 36 77 4 32 45 28 DK/NA 4 4 2 4 4 4 -
Question 19. Do you support or oppose recent protests against ICE?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 60% 18% 94% 65% 53% 66% Oppose 35 76 5 29 40 30 DK/NA 5 6 1 7 6 4 -
Question 20. Do you think the Trump administration has deployed ICE agents in Minneapolis: more for legitimate law enforcement purposes or more for political reasons?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Law enforcement 37% 80% 6% 31% 46% 29% Political 56 13 90 61 47 64 DK/NA 7 8 4 8 7 8 -
Question 21. Thinking about people in your family, community, work or school, would you say you know someone who is living in fear because of the Trump administration's deportation policies, or not?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Know 47% 19% 65% 51% 40% 53% No 51 81 30 48 59 44 DK/NA 3 - 4 1 2 3 -
Question 22. Do you think ICE agents should be required to wear body cameras, or not?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Required 92% 83% 99% 94% 89% 95% No 5 11 - 3 8 2 DK/NA 3 6 1 3 3 3 -
Question 23. Do you think ICE agents should be permitted to wear masks or other face coverings, or not?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Permitted 35% 73% 6% 32% 45% 27% No 61 23 93 65 52 70 DK/NA 3 4 1 3 3 3 -
Question 24. As you may know, ICE agents are going to be joining the U.S. security team at the Olympics in Italy. Do you think this is a good idea or bad idea?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Good idea 24% 52% 5% 21% 30% 19% Bad idea 63 26 91 66 55 69 DK/NA 13 22 4 13 15 12 -
Question 25. Do you think the federal government should provide more funding for ICE, less funding for ICE, or keep ICE funding at about its current level?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More funding 14% 36% 1% 9% 18% 11% Less funding 51 10 84 57 43 59 Keep current 30 49 11 30 34 26 DK/NA 5 5 4 4 5 5 -
Question 26. As you may know, the United States bombed nuclear facilities in Iran last summer. Do you support or oppose additional U.S. military strikes against Iran to try to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons?
REGISTERED VOTERS..................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 45% 81% 16% 43% 54% 37% Oppose 42 10 69 43 35 48 DK/NA 13 9 16 13 12 15