Melania's Quiet Power in Trump's Noem Showdown, and the Minnesota Shooting Fallout

Mark Halperin portrays a long, casual Oval Office discussion between Trump and Kristi Noem, with Melania Trump described as a close ally; Noem’s post‑shooting remarks about Alex Pretti were pre‑coordinated with White House officials and praised privately afterward. The piece notes Tom Homan’s on‑the‑ground role and Stephen Miller’s immigration influence, while Trump weighs de‑escalation in Minnesota and scrutiny over who ultimately bears responsibility for the Pretti shooting.