On January 26, 2026, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel delivered one of his most emotional and impassioned monologues to date on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, breaking down in tears as he addressed the recent fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis. The heartfelt response reflects growing public concern and intense debate over the circumstances of Pretti’s death, which has dominated headlines and sparked widespread outrage.
Kimmel opened the show by recounting how he — like many Americans — had spent the weekend “shocked and sick” scrolling through reports and videos emerging from Minneapolis, where Pretti was shot and killed by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a federal enforcement operation. He described the situation in the city as increasingly chaotic, saying that one disturbing video after another showed scenes of people being torn from their families and even children tear-gassed, and questioned whether such actions represented the rule of law the country should stand for.
In his monologue, Kimmel sharply criticized ICE and federal officials, calling them “poorly trained, shamefully led, mask-wearing goons committing vile, heartless and even criminal acts.” He urged viewers to watch the available footage for themselves and decide whether the actions they were seeing aligned with the ideals of justice and safety. “We see these videos in which we clearly see one of our fellow Americans executed by ICE,” Kimmel said, referring to both Pretti’s death and a similar fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Good by an ICE agent earlier in the month, and noted that officials “won’t even admit that it was a mistake.”
A particularly emotional moment came when Kimmel questioned whether the federal government’s narrative matched the visual record — highlighting that Pretti, who had a legal right to carry a firearm under Minnesota law, was not seen drawing or using it in any of the footage as agents moved in. “They fired 10 times on an ICU nurse and tell us it was justified,” he said, urging viewers across the political spectrum to grapple with the implications. “Is that the law and order that you voted for? If you voted for this?”
Kimmel’s voice at times cracked with emotion as he spoke about the broader impact of the violence in Minneapolis, expressing empathy for residents who felt unsafe in their own neighborhoods and for families personally affected by the deaths of Pretti and Good. He also criticized the response from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other officials who, in his view, had downplayed or mischaracterized what happened. “They won’t even say it was a mistake,” he said. “Decide for yourself if that’s making America great.”
Toward the end of his monologue, Kimmel paid tribute to Pretti’s service as an ICU nurse, particularly his work treating veterans, describing it as “about as patriotic as it gets.” He showed a previously recorded video of Pretti honoring one of his veteran patients — emphasizing the contrast between the compassion reflected in that moment and the violent circumstances of his death. With tears in his eyes, Kimmel concluded, “Alex Pretti, may he rest in peace.”
The emotional monologue resonated with many viewers online, drawing reactions across social and traditional media. Supporters praised Kimmel’s candid expression of grief and solidarity with the families and communities affected, while others used the moment to highlight broader concerns about law enforcement accountability and civil liberties. Some public figures in the late-night landscape echoed his sentiments, extending criticism of the federal response and calling for greater transparency and reflection.
Kimmel’s tearful address reflects the growing national conversation around the shooting of Pretti — a man who, according to family and witnesses, was engaged in everyday life and community support when he was killed. The broader controversy around the incident and its aftermath continues to fuel debate over federal law enforcement practices, the use of force, and the narratives presented by officials versus the evidence seen in widely shared video footage.
As the community and the nation process the emotional weight of the case, Kimmel’s monologue stands as a notable cultural response, capturing the shock, sorrow, and unanswered questions that many Americans feel in the wake of Pretti’s death.
