'Unify.' Melania Trump calls for peace in Minneapolis in rare statement

In a rare political statement, first lady Melania Trump on Jan. 27 spoke out about violence in Minnesota, calling for America to "unify" amid weeks of unrest in the midwestern state's Twin Cities.

'I know my husband, the president, had a great call yesterday with the governor and the mayor, and they're working together to make it peaceful and... without riots,' the first lady told Fox News after a reporter asked what her message is for America about coming together "on both sides."

'I'm against the violence. So, please if you protest, protest in peace," the first lady said. "We need to unify in these times."

Her comments come amid growing backlash after federal immigration agents shot and killed two people in Minneapolis this month: Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who treated veterans, and Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old poet and mother of three.

A third person was shot in Minneapolis on Jan. 14, the Department of Homeland Security said, but survived.

Good’s killing launched a wave of protests against the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement actions and legal battles between Minnesota's state and local officials and the federal government.

Some 3,000 immigration agents have swarmed the Minneapolis region as part of the "largest immigration enforcement operation ever," according to DHS. Federal officials have said over 3,000 undocumented immigrants have been detained as part of the operation.

Border Patrol agents shot Pretti on Jan. 24 just south of downtown Minneapolis, and on Jan. 7, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Jonathan Ross shot and killed Good in a residential neighborhood.

Top Minnesota officials say some federal agents will leave the city starting Jan. 27, while the White House dispatched border czar Tom Homan to take over immigration enforcement operations in the state, USA TODAY reported this week.

Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, who has been the face of the administration’s militarized enforcement operation, is also expected to leave Minneapolis.

Melania Trump's call for unification comes ahead of documentary

Donald Trump on Jan. 26 promoted Melania Trump's upcoming documentary, which chronicles 20 days leading up to his 2025 inauguration through her own eyes as she readies to transition her family back into the White House, according to Amazon, which will release the film.

The film is the debut project from Melania Trump's new film production company, Muse Films, which the first lady announced via social media late last year.

Contributing: Christopher Cann, Trevor Hughes, Jeanine Santucci, and Michael Loria

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.