‘We are not messing around’: Kash Patel gives dire warning to those threatening law enforcement
In the wake of the second killing of an anti-ICE activist in as many weeks in Minneapolis, FBI Director Kash Patel says the Federal Bureau of Investigation is “not messing around” when it comes to threats against law enforcement.
“We are not messing around,” Patel said on “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News Channel. “It doesn’t have to be in person. If you threaten law-enforcement officials or civilians, we are gonna come find you.”
WATCH:
JUST IN: FBI Director Kash Patel drops STRAIGHT TRUTH NUKE
“NO ONE who wants to be peaceful shows up at a protest with a firearm that is loaded with two full magazines! That is NOT a peaceful protest, and you do not get to touch law enforcement.”
“You do that anywhere, this… pic.twitter.com/3dpjurPIVr
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 25, 2026
“We’ve already arrested with the interagency those that violated the FACE Act and impeded a peaceful prayer in church. We’ve already just last night arrested four more individuals involved in the damage of government property that we saw the videos of online. We’ve arrested other individuals for making threats to law enforcement online.”
Alex Pretti, 37, of Minneapolis was armed with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun when he was fatally shot by a Customs and Border Patrol officer Saturday.
“As [DHS] Secretary [Kristi] Noem said, no one who wants to be peaceful shows up at a protest with a firearm that is loaded with two full magazines. That is not a peaceful protest. You do not get to touch law enforcement. You do that anywhere, this FBI is gonna be leading the charge to arrest.”
When Bartiromo asked Patel if Pretti’s gun were visible before shooting erupted, Patel replied: “All those pieces of the investigation are being led by DHS and HSI, and I don’t want to comment on their ongoing investigation.”
He said the weapon and other physical evidence is “sent to our FBI laboratory where it’ll be fingerprinted, we’ll use a ballistics examination toolkit to see if any casings were fired, and we’ll examine all the casings that were found on the scene.”
Bartiromo then played a recent video clip of Democrat Gov. Tim Walz instructing people to use their phones to record federal actions to help create a database of “atrocities.”
Patel responded: “I think that type of rhetoric is exactly what’s leading to violence against law enforcement that is totally baseless and unnecessary. And for the state CEO to do that against our law enforcement community is disgusting and revolting.
“And it should be examined thoroughly as to anyone who is involved in inciting this type of violence. It is absolutely improper, unlawful and will not be tolerated any type of violence against law enforcement.”
When asked how will the violence end, Patel indicated: “This will end thanks to President Trump’s brilliant leadership to always back the blue. Law enforcement will hold the day. The Constitution and the rule of law will hold the day. It is a tough time right now, but I believe that our law enforcement officials on the ground, DHS, FBI, local police forces across the country are moving in the right direction and we will quell these riots and we will prevail. That’s what we always do.”
Regarding his advice to people who are outraged at the second killing of a protester in two weeks, Patel said: “You cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any sort of protest you want. It’s that simple. You don’t have that right to break the law and incite violence.
“We will always of course protect your First Amendment speech. And if you peacefully protest, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But you have seen a trend here, not just in Minnesota, but across the country in these protests turning into violent scenarios and people attacking law enforcement. That’s when you go over the line.”
WATCH THE FULL SEGMENT WITH KASH PATEL:
Full segment with @Kash_Patel today pic.twitter.com/PQi5tnw7ro
— Karli Bonne’ (@KarluskaP) January 25, 2026
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