From PBS NewsHour.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he did not think Alex Pretti, the second U.S. citizen to be killed by federal forces in Minnesota this month, was acting as an assassin.

"You can’t have guns. You can’t walk in with guns," the president said in response to a question from PBS News’ Liz Landers, reiterating a talking point from the administration that Pretti should not have brought a legally carried handgun to the scene — a position that has infuriated gun rights advocates.

The president’s response amounted to a softening of his administration’s tone on the Jan. 24 shooting, after several of his top aides, including White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, described Pretti as a threat to federal agents.

Following Pretti’s death, gun rights groups have released statements, saying that it’s legal to carry firearms during protests or while exercising First Amendment rights.

Landers asked Trump about the Second Amendment, which protects the right to keep and bear arms.

"It’s a very unfortunate incident," Trump said, shortly before departing the White House for a planned speech in Iowa.

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