No, Donald Trump didn’t post that ‘only criminals carry guns.’ It’s a fake Truth Social post

After federal immigration agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, social media users shared a screenshot of what appeared to be a Truth Social post, leaving some people confused about an apparent shift in President Donald Trump’s gun control views. 

But Trump never shared such a post. It was fabricated. 

X, Facebook and Threads users shared on Jan. 24 and 25 images of the supposed Truth Social post and tagged the National Rifle Association’s social media accounts. 

"He had a gun, only criminals carry guns on our streets, we need law and order. Thank you for your attention to this matter. President Donald J. Trump," reads what looks like a screenshot of the Truth Social post. 

(Screenshot of a Threads post showing a fabricated Truth Social post.)

A Facebook user shared the screenshot in a Facebook group writing, "Yo, Second Amendment bros. I'm so confused."

This post is not on Trump’s Truth Social account or in an archive that saves his current and deleted Truth Social posts. 

After Pretti was killed, Trump posted a picture and long message on Truth Social, writing, "This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about?"

The NRA issued a "fake news alert" on X advising users not to believe the screenshot of the Truth Social post circulating online.

"As bad actors among us attempt to further divide our country, it is now more important than ever to be vigilant against AI-generated content meant to mislead Americans," the NRA wrote Jan. 25.

We rate the claim that Trump posted on Truth Social that "only criminals carry guns on our streets" Pants on Fire!