REPUBLICANS and gun rights advocates have pushed back after the White House suggested that the second person killed this month by a federal officer in Minneapolis bore responsibility for his own death because he was lawfully armed.

The shooting of Alex Pretti has exposed tensions within President Donald Trump’s coalition, with senior conservatives calling for an investigation while questioning Republicans’ Second Amendment consistency.

“The president supports the second amendment rights of law-abiding American citizens, absolutely,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, saying that confronting police while armed increases “the risk of force being used.”

The remarks followed claims by senior officials that Mr Pretti had acted violently.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said he was “brandishing” a weapon, while Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino alleged he intended to harm officers.

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller labelled him “an assassin.”

But bystander footage contradicted the statements, showing Mr Pretti holding a mobile phone and assisting a woman who had been pepper-sprayed.

The National Rifle Association criticised comments by a federal prosecutor suggesting armed civilians risk being lawfully shot by police, calling the view “dangerous and wrong.”

Gun Owners of America vice-president Erich Pratt said he had attended protests while armed “and no-one got injured.”

And Republicans, including Mike Pence, called for a “full and transparent investigation.”

Critics also noted the contrast with conservative responses to January 6 2021, when Mr Trump later pardoned supporters found to be carrying weapons at the US Capitol.

UCLA law professor Adam Winkler said the backlash showed how “tribal” gun politics have become.

The fallout came as Mr Trump reshuffled immigration enforcement leadership, placing border tsar Tom Homan in charge of the Minneapolis operation, reporting directly to the White House.