Is TikTok Down After Minneapolis ICE Shooting? Users Claim They Can't Repost Alex Pretti ICE Videos

TikTok users across the US reported widespread posting and reposting issues on 25 January 2026, prompting claims that the platform temporarily restricted content related to the fatal ICE shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

While TikTok later confirmed a brief outage affecting multiple features, many users reported difficulties liking, reposting, or engaging with ICE videos, especially those that mention Alex Pretti.

The timing of TikTok going down and the ICE shooting has fueled online suspicion amid heightened scrutiny of the platform's moderation practices.

What Happened in Minneapolis

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, was fatally shot on 24 January 2026, during a federal immigration enforcement operation in south Minneapolis. According to initial Department of Homeland Security statements, a US Border Patrol agent fired after perceiving a threat.

However, bystander videos circulating online appear to contradict that account. Several clips show Pretti being restrained by multiple agents moments before gunfire, with no visible weapon in his hands.

Pretti was later confirmed to be a US citizen and was not the intended target of the operation. The shooting sparked immediate protests across Minneapolis and renewed criticism of federal immigration enforcement tactics.

As of 26 January, federal authorities confirmed an internal review was underway. No disciplinary action or criminal charges had been announced.

TikTok Outage Sparks Online Claims

Meanwhile, on the evening of 25 January, TikTok experienced a service disruption lasting roughly two hours. Users reported issues with posting videos, refreshing feeds, reposting content, and accessing search results.

Outage-tracking sites recorded a spike in complaints across multiple regions.

During that window, some users claimed they were unable to repost or share videos related to Alex Pretti or the Minneapolis shooting, while repost features appeared to work normally on unrelated content. Screenshots circulated on X and Reddit showing missing repost buttons on search-based videos tied to keywords like 'Alex Pretti' and 'ICE shooting.'

These reports led some users to speculate that TikTok was selectively suppressing politically sensitive content.

Is There Evidence of Targeted Censorship?

At this time, there is no confirmed evidence that TikTok intentionally restricted reposts related to the Pretti shooting. TikTok acknowledged the outage but did not reference any specific content categories or moderation actions connected to the incident.

Platform specialists note that repost functionality can vary depending on whether a video is accessed through search results, the For You page, or direct links. During outages, these inconsistencies are often amplified.

Meanwhile, TikTok also routinely limits the distribution of violent footage under its existing community guidelines, particularly when videos include graphic content.

While users have connected the issue to TikTok's recent transition to US-based ownership—finalised just days earlier—no technical documentation or whistleblower evidence has emerged to support claims of government-directed suppression.

Why the Timing Raised Alarm

The outage occurred less than 48 hours after TikTok finalised a deal restructuring its US operations under American oversight, following months of political pressure and threats of a nationwide ban.

That backdrop has heightened public sensitivity to perceived changes in moderation, particularly involving law enforcement or federal agencies.

For users already distrustful of platform governance, the inability to repost protest footage or memorial videos, whether caused by bugs or moderation, felt significant. Furthermore, in the modern era, politically charged moments and technical disruptions can quickly take on symbolic meaning.