Whoopi Goldberg Breaks Down While Blaming Leaders Over Alex Pretti Fatal Shooting

The conversation on The View took a heavy turn on the Monday, January 26 episode, as the hosts reacted to the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Pretti was a 37-year-old VA nurse who was shot and killed by border agents over the weekend. The segment aired on ABC and focused on video footage that has since spread widely online.

Whoopi Goldberg struggled to keep her voice steady as she described what she saw. She said the video appeared to show Pretti holding a phone and a bottle of water when he was shot multiple times. Watching it left her visibly shaken. I don’t know what you’re investigating, if you’re not investigating the straight-up murder — the straight-up murder, Goldberg said during the live broadcast.

She connected Pretti’s death to another recent case, pointing out that Renee Nicole Good, also an American citizen, was killed by immigration agents only weeks earlier. For Goldberg, the pattern was impossible to ignore. She aimed her anger directly at federal leadership. Kristi Noem, you can’t justify this. Mr. Bovino, you can’t justify this, she said, naming officials involved. She ended her remarks by telling those in power, you all have blood on your hands.

Ana Navarro followed by questioning the government’s version of events. She suggested that officials fear public scrutiny more than anything else. According to Navarro, cameras and witnesses expose what is really happening during these operations. For them, a camera is just as dangerous as a gun, she said on the show.

Sara Haines took a different angle, focusing on how federal agents are trained and recruited. She argued that the culture being promoted encourages violence and strips people of their humanity. The problem is they’re currently recruiting people using imagery from single-shooter games, giving them this vibe that they’re coming to get rid of vermin, Haines explained. She added that when agents believe they will face no consequences, it creates a dangerous mindset.

While the discussion was rooted in grief and anger, Goldberg’s career continues to move forward in 2026. She recently appeared in the romantic comedy Leopardi & Co., which was released in late 2025.

She is also pushing ahead with Sister Act 3, a project she has long supported. Goldberg has confirmed that the script has been turned in to Disney, with some delays following the death of Maggie Smith. Familiar faces like Kathy Najimy, Wendy Makkena, and Keke Palmer are expected to be part of the cast.

The episode of The View made it clear that the hosts see Alex Pretti’s death as more than a single incident. Whether viewers agree or not, the emotional response from the panel has added fuel to an already intense national conversation.

Do you think moments like this on daytime television help people better understand what’s happening, or do they deepen divisions even more? Share your thoughts in the comments.