Jennifer Aniston makes rare political statement as she weighs in on killing of Alex Pretti

Jennifer Aniston doesn’t typically use her platform to comment on politics, but did so Sunday following the fatal shooting of intensive care nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by a U.S. Border Patrol officer.

The Friends star, 56, made clear her thoughts on the situation in a series of slides on her Instagram Stories following the politically-charged death of Pretti, 37, who worked at a Minnesota VA hospital.

The first slide the Morning Show actress reposted was a statement from Pretti’s parents that was initially shared by Senator Bernie Sanders.

‘We are heartbroken but also very angry,’ Pretti’s parents said. ‘Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital.

‘Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.

Pretti’s parents in the statement pushed back against narrative from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that their late son had a weapon in his hand when he was fatally shot.

Jennifer Aniston, 56, doesn’t typically use her platform to comment on politics, but did so Sunday following the fatal shooting of intensive care nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by a U.S. Border Patrol officer. Pictured in LA in November

Daily Mail examines the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti

‘The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,’ his parents said. ‘Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs.

‘He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.’

The statement from Pretti’s parents concluded: ‘Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.’

In a second slide shared by Aniston, Pretti was seen addressing his colleagues at the VA hospital as they mourned a deceased veteran.

‘Today we remember that freedom is not free,’ Pretti said. ‘May we never forget and always remember our brothers and sisters who have served so that we may enjoy the gift of freedom.

‘So in this moment, we remember and give thanks for their dedication and selfless service to our nation, in the cause of our freedom. In this solemn hour, we read them our honor and our gratitude.’

A third set of slides Aniston shared urged people to contact their local leaders to voice their opinion on the shooting.

The slides were scored to the Primitive Radio Gods’ morose 1996 hit Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand.

Protesters seen in Minneapolis Saturday following the shooting of Pretti

A memorial was set up in Minneapolis following the death of the ICU nurse

New angle shows moment Alex Pretti is confronted by federal agents

The statement read, ‘To anyone who thinks calling your reps doesn’t work … the number to call is 202–224–3121. Call your two U.S. senators and one U.S. representative.

‘Only call your own members because staffers used the volume of CALLS (not emails or letters) from *actual constituents* to measure voter sentiment. They also tally the issue discussed… and even the caller’s tone of voice.’

The statement concluded, ‘One call might not change anything – but many calls absolutely could. It’s like tug-of-war – one person pulling may not win, but you have a MUCH better chance if thousands pull simultaneously, even a little.’

Other notable names to state their anger and discomfort via social media about Saturday’s events in Minneapolis included Olivia Rodrigo, Stephen King, Kathy Griffin and Cynthia Nixon.

In Minneapolis on Sunday, federal and state officials were clashing over the incident, with each saying the other side was at fault.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz asked at a news conference, ‘Which side do you want to be on?

‘The side of an all-powerful federal government that could kill, injure, menace and kidnap its citizens off the streets, or on the side of a nurse at the VA hospital who died bearing witness to such government.’

Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino said at a federal building on Sunday that Pretti had placed himself in harm’s way with his conduct in the incident.

The first slide the Morning Show actress reposted was a statement from Pretti’s parents that was initially shared by Senator Bernie Sanders

The Friends alum shared a series of politically-charged posts with her 44.7M followers

Mourners were seen at the memorial site in Minneapolis on Sunday

Marc Ruffalo among celebrities protesting ICE at the Globes

‘When someone makes the choice to come into an active law enforcement scene, interfere, obstruct, delay or assault law enforcement officer and – and they bring a weapon to do that – that is a choice that that individual made,’ Bovino said, according to the AP.

Aniston’s comments came as a number of notable Democrats spoke out about the incident.

They including Walz’s former running mate, ex-Vice President Kamala Harris, who hailed Pretti via social media as a person who ‘was dedicated to serving his community and our country.’

Harris continued, ‘As so many have now seen on video, his final act before he was killed by federal agents was doing everything in his power to protect his community.

‘Alex and tens of thousands of Minnesotans have boldly defended their neighbors against the murderous occupation of an American city by the federal government.’

The 2024 Democratic presidential candidate wrapped up in saying she was ‘enraged and heartbroken for Alex, his family, Minneapolis, and America.’

Another former presidential candidate, Sanders, called for ‘all federal agents — ICE and Border Patrol’ to be ‘withdrawn immediately from Minneapolis and other cities.’

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, ‘ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE.’