White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday notably distanced President Trump from rhetoric made by high-profile members of his administration in the aftermath of the shooting death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Leavitt was peppered with questions during the White House press briefing about whether Trump agreed with sentiments of Pretti`s killing that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller made over the weekend.

That included Noem saying Pretti "attacked" federal law enforcement while "brandishing" a firearm and saying the incident was an example of "domestic terrorism." Meanwhile, Miller referred to Pretti as a "would-be assassin" who "tried to murder federal law enforcement."

Multiple angles of video captured by witnesses of Pretti`s confrontation with federal law enforcement Saturday show an officer shooting Pretti in the back after an altercation in which Pretti, filming the officers, sought to help a woman being pepper-sprayed before he was also pepper-sprayed. Video appears to show an officer taking Pretti`s gun and walking away before he was shot.

When asked whether Trump agrees with Noem and Miller`s sentiments on the circumstances, Leavitt said she has not heard the president "characterize Mr. Pretti in that way."

"However, I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts and the investigation lead itself," Leavitt said.

Leavitt did not give a definitive answer when another reporter asked whether Miller will be apologizing to Pretti`s family.

"Again, this incident remains under investigation, and nobody here at the White House, including the president of the United States, wants to see Americans hurt or killed and losing their lives in American streets," she responded.

Leavitt`s public navigation of the aftermath of Pretti`s shooting showed a shift in how the White House was handling the situation, and it marked a major contrast with some of the administration`s reaction to the shooting death of Renee Good earlier this month. The administration across the board was quick to defend the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer who fatally shot Good, who was unarmed.

Trump, however, did express notions while sitting down for an interview with The New York Times that he did not want to see anyone shot when he watched video of Good.

"Nobody in the White House, including President Trump, wants to see people getting hurt or killed in America`s streets. This includes Renee Good, Alex Pretti, the brave men and women of federal law enforcement and the many Americans who have been victimized at the hands of illegal alien criminals," Leavitt told reporters.

The videos have led to backlash not only by Democrats but also by Republicans and gun rights activists, who usually stand firmly behind Trump.

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) suggested in a Fox News interview Sunday that Trump should consider pulling ICE personnel out of Minnesota. Sen Bill Cassidy (R-La.) went further, saying "the credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake."

Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) called Noem`s response "premature" pointing out that her comments came "before all the facts were known and weakened confidence."

House Homeland Security Committee Chair Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) called the heads of several Department of Homeland Security agencies to come before his panel, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) demanded the same on the Senate side.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), a staunch Trump ally, said in a radio interview with conservative talk show host Mark Davis that the White House needs to "recalibrate" ICE "to ensure that they get back to get what they wanted to do to begin with - and that is to remove people from the country."

Administration officials appear to be shifting on the matter as more Reublicans come out against its initial handling of the Pretti`s killing.

Gregory Bovino, who has become the face of the Trump administration`s immigration crackdown, took part in an interview with CNN`s Dana Bash on Sunday in which he appeared to defend the actions of federal agents in Pretti`s shooting.

When asked whether Bovino would continue to lead operations in Minnesota, Leavitt said he would continue to lead Customs and Border Protection (CBP) nationwide.

"Mr. Bovino is a wonderful man and he`s a great professional. He is very much going to continue CBP throughout and across the country. Mr. [Tom] Homan will be the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis."

Trump, himself, has also softened his rhetoric over the last day.

In an interview Sunday with The Wall Street Journal, the president did not say whether the Border Patrol agent who shot Pretti was at fault, insisting that an investigation was underway.

"We`re looking, we`re reviewing everything and will come out with a determination," Trump told the publication.

Trump made more headlines Monday when he suddenly revealed he had a "very good call" with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), who has emerged as one of his top political foes. A day before, Trump on Truth Social was making demands on Walz in much harsher tones.

Later Monday, Trump boasted about a conversation he had with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, saying that Homan would meet Frey on Tuesday.

"Lots of progress is being made! Tom Homan will be meeting with him tomorrow in order to continue the discussion," Trump wrote on TruthSocial.

Others have questioned whether Trump`s move to send Homan, his border czar, to Minneapolis had anything to do with Noem`s or Bovino`s performance. Leavitt told reporters Monday that Trump still has confidence in Noem.

However, Leavitt also used Monday`s press briefing as an opportunity to swipe at Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) over their handling of the situation.

"Governor Walz and Mayor Frey have shamefully blocked local and state police from cooperating with ICE actively inhibiting efforts to arrest violent criminals," she said.