UPDATE - Trump affirms Noem to stay as Homeland Security chief amid backlash for Minnesota killing

ADDS MORE REMARKS BY TRUMP

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Donald Trump dismissed notions Tuesday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem might step down amid a backlash for killings by federal immigration agents in the state of Minnesota.

"No," Trump told reporters before leaving for the state of Iowa, when asked if Noem is going to step down.

Noem is facing internal scrutiny following Saturday's fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and US citizen, by federal Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. Several Democrats have also signed on to an impeachment resolution against Noem.

Trump said he thinks Noem is doing "a very good job."

"The border is totally secure. You know, you forget we had a border that I inherited where millions of people were coming through. Now we have a border where no one is coming through," he said.

Noem is scheduled to testify on March 3 before the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to media reports.

Trump said border czar Tom Homan is in Minnesota, where he was scheduled to meet with Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey later Tuesday.

"I hear that's all going well," said Trump.

On the probe into Pretti's death, Trump said his administration is conducting "a big investigation."

"I want to see the investigation. I'm going to be watching over it. I want a very honorable and honest investigation — I have to see it myself," he said.

Asked what he would say to Pretti's family, Trump said: "I'm looking at that whole situation. I love everybody. I love all of our people. I love his family — and it's a very sad situation."

Later in Iowa, Trump called the incident "very unfortunate."

Asked whether he agrees with the assessment from some of his own officials that Pretti is "a domestic terrorist," he said he has “not heard that.”

"He certainly shouldn't have been carrying a gun. I don't like that he had a gun. I don't like that he had two fully loaded magazines. That's a lot of bad stuff," he added.