'I'm against the violence, so please, if you protest, protest in peace,' she told Fox & Friends on Tuesday during an appearance to promote her upcoming movie.

Melania, an immigrant from Slovenia, said the President had a 'great call' with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both Democrats, on Monday. 

'I know my husband, the President, had a great call yesterday with the governor and the mayor, and they're working together to make it peaceful and without riots,' Melania confirmed.

'We need to unify in these times,' she continued. 

The First Lady's decision to comment underlines the depth of public outcry after federal agents shot dead Alex Pretti, 37-year-old VA nurse in Minneapolis on Saturday.

Video showed eight agents surrounding Pretti and tackling him to the ground. The nurse, who was carrying a licensed firearm, appeared to have been disarmed before he was shot ten times in less than five seconds. 

Pretti's killing came less than three weeks after Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot dead at another anti-ICE protest in the city. Good had been blocking a road with her vehicle and drove it into an agent when she was killed.

Trump rebuked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's leadership on Monday as he announced that Border Czar Tom Homan will now lead the ICE operation in Minneapolis.

'I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'He has not been involved in that area, but knows and likes many of the people there. Tom is tough but fair, and will report directly to me.' 

On Sunday, Noem referred to Pretti as a 'domestic terrorist' - a view Trump did not share.

'I don't like any shooting. I don't like it,' Trump told the Wall Street Journal.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that she had 'not heard the president characterize' Pretti as a domestic terrorist.