AI-altered and fabricated images spread after Minneapolis ICE shooting of Alex Pretti
Pro-Trump influencers and other social media users spread falsified images and misidentifications of Alex Pretti, a nurse shot by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, including wrongly-attributed photos of other men and false claims about his actions. Authenticated video and witness testimony contradicted the fabricated social media posts.
What happened
Following the shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and ICU nurse, by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis on Saturday, pro-Trump influencers and others spread misdirected and fabricated content on social media.
Nick Sortor, with 1.4 million followers on X, incorrectly identified Mr. Pretti as an unauthorized immigrant. Jack Posobiec, with 3.3 million followers on X, falsely described Mr. Pretti as having 'run up on police' and drawn a gun. Photos of different men --- dressed in drag or shirtless at a street festival --- were wrongly identified as Mr. Pretti and shared widely.
Reported impact
The fabricated content and misidentifications distorted the evidence of the shooting across social media, muddying the public record despite verified videos and witness testimony showing how federal agents tackled and shot Mr. Pretti.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.