Fact Check: Be cautious of Trump's claim that he's 'proud' of his 'ICE boys'

A viral social media post claiming that Donald Trump praised his ICE boys after a fatal incident in Minnesota has been confirmed as fake. Fact-checkers verified that the message did not appear on Trumps official accounts and was a deliberate fabrication.

A viral rumor that circulated in late January 2026 suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump made a controversial post on social media, claiming he was proud of his ICE boys following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on January 24, 2026. The post, which seemed to praise an extremist group, quickly spread across various social media platforms. However, after thorough investigation, it was confirmed that the post was fabricated.

The Fake Post Goes Viral

The supposed post gained significant traction on Threads and Facebook in the days following the tragic incident in Minneapolis. The incident involved 37-year-old Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, who was killed by U.S. Border Patrol agents. The alleged post attributed to Trump read:

"I am clearing the Ghettos of Minnesota of liberal foreign scum and radical lunatic leftists. I am so proud of my ICE Boys... after all they stood back and stood ready, and now we are unleashing retribution and saving the soil from invaders. And given our successful ongoing round-ups, I'm thinking midterms might not be necessary. Thank you and stay proud boys."

As this post spread, some social media users accepted it at face value, while others turned to fact-checking organizations like Snopes for verification. However, it was soon determined that the post was fabricated and did not originate from Trump.

Discrepancies and Investigation

Upon further investigation, no trace of the alleged post could be found on Trump’s official Truth Social account or any other legitimate source. Trump's social media posts are thoroughly archived and indexed, but the purported message was absent from all platforms. In reality, Trump's posts regarding the Minnesota incident focused on a conversation with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, but they did not include the inflammatory language seen in the fake post.

Several key factors pointed to the post’s inauthenticity:

• The avatar in the fake post did not match Trump’s official stylized portrait, which typically features an American flag.
• There was no "ReTruths" label, which is a common feature on posts shared from Truth Social.
• The post lacked a date and time, which is a major indicator that it was fabricated.
• The engagement metrics (720 comments, 1.42K reposts, and 4.92K likes) appeared to be inflated and resembled those seen on other debunked posts, likely generated through a template.

Context Behind the Fake Post

The fake post seemed to align with Trump’s past comments related to extremist groups, specifically the Proud Boys. The Proud Boys, a far-right group with a history of violence and hate speech, have been described by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as a "right-wing extremist group" with connections to misogyny, Islamophobia, anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ+, antisemitic, and white supremacist ideologies. Trump's controversial remarks during the first U.S. presidential debate in September 2020, where he stated, "Proud Boys, stand back and stand by," had already sparked significant criticism. While Trump did not explicitly condemn the group, his words were interpreted by many as a tacit endorsement.

In January 2025, former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and several associates were convicted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Tarrio received a 22-year prison sentence, the longest sentence of any Capitol riot defendant before being pardoned by Trump in January 2026. This context only adds to the controversy surrounding the fake post, as it seemed to align with past rhetoric linked to extremist groups.

Conclusion: The Post Was Fake

There is no evidence that Donald Trump ever posted the message circulating on social media. The supposed post was a deliberate fabrication, likely intended to provoke a reaction and align with the narrative of Trump’s past comments. Despite the widespread nature of the fake post, Trump’s actual statements and social media activity show no indication that he was celebrating ICE or the Proud Boys in connection with recent events in Minnesota.

The spread of misinformation online remains a significant issue, particularly when it pertains to sensitive topics. It is essential for users to verify claims before sharing them, as false information can lead to further division and confusion within society.

Sources:

• Snopes: Don’t fall for Trump post claiming he’s 'proud' of his 'ICE boys'
• Yahoo News UK: Fact Check: Don’t fall for Trump post claiming he’s 'proud' of his 'ICE boys'
• Snopes Fact Checks Archive (listing the ICE boys item)
• Fact Check: Don't fall for Trump post claiming he's 'proud' of his 'ICE boys'