WATCH: Jimmy Kimmel Breaks Down In Tears Over Minneapolis Chaos

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel abandoned comedy almost entirely during a recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! as he became visibly emotional while discussing the ongoing unrest in Minneapolis tied to federal immigration enforcement and the death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti.

In a monologue that resembled a cable news commentary more than a comedy routine, Kimmel began tearing up while criticizing political leaders and reacting to the fallout from the confrontation between Pretti and federal border agents.

“If our leaders are intentionally creating and encouraging violence and fear, then I hope you will also agree we need new leaders, because these are not leaders,” Kimmel said during the segment.

He went on to address Minneapolis residents directly, along with the families affected by the unrest.

“To the people of Minneapolis, to the Pretti family and the Good family, and these people who are looking out for their neighbors, we want you to know that we are with you and you are not alone,” Kimmel said.

WATCH:

NEW: Comedian Jimmy Kimmel starts crying on his show while talking about the situation in Minneapolis.

“If our leaders are intentionally creating and encouraging violence and fear, then I hope you will also agree we need new leaders because these are not leaders.”

“And to the… pic.twitter.com/qhgtlHY5zD

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 27, 2026

The moment quickly spread online, with critics arguing Kimmel’s program has effectively become a political therapy session rather than a comedy show, featuring more lectures and tears than jokes.

Kimmel’s comments came amid renewed scrutiny surrounding the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis ICU nurse who died during a confrontation with a Border Patrol agent last weekend. New reporting indicates Pretti had been injured in a prior encounter with federal officers just one week earlier.

According to a CNN report citing a source familiar with the matter, Pretti suffered a broken rib during an earlier confrontation with federal agents following a protest against President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement operations. The source said the incident occurred after Pretti stopped his vehicle upon seeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers pursuing a family on foot.

Pretti allegedly began shouting and blowing a whistle before being taken to the ground by five agents. One officer reportedly leaned on his back during the encounter, resulting in the rib injury. Pretti was released at the scene but remained known to federal authorities afterward.

Documents obtained by CNN also show federal agents deployed to Minneapolis earlier this month were instructed to “capture all images, license plates, identifications, and general information on hotels, agitators, protestors.” Authorities are believed to have retained information related to Pretti, though it remains unclear when documentation on him began.

Pretti later died during a separate confrontation with a Border Patrol agent on Saturday. Federal officials have maintained that agents were responding to interference with an active law enforcement operation, while investigations into the incident remain ongoing.

While state and local Democratic leaders have accused federal authorities of overreach and demanded de-escalation, the Trump administration has defended the operation, citing interference with lawful enforcement efforts. A federal appeals court added another layer to the standoff by siding with the administration and lifting restrictions on how ICE agents may respond to protesters, allowing arrests and crowd-control measures to resume.