AMNA NAWAZ: For more on the Trump administration's# evolving response to the deadly shootings## in Minneapolis, we're joined now by our# White House correspondent, Liz Landers.

So, Liz, we saw in Fred's report there President## Trump told you he did not think Pretti# was an assassin.

Why is that significant?

LIZ LANDERS: It's notable because the# administration is changing their tone on## what happened in Minneapolis.

On Saturday,# within hours of this shooting happening,## White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller# took to social media to call Pretti an assassin.

And that was reposted by the vice president# of the United States.

So, within a few hours,## you had two top White House officials taking# this stance that he was an assassin.

Today,## we're seeing the president distancing# himself from that, saying that Pretti## and Renee Good's shootings were both# terrible.

He said: "I hate to see that."

And I also just want to note something else# about our exchange about handguns there and## the gun that Pretti was apparently carrying on# his person when that happened.

He was legally## permitted to have that gun.

And Minnesota has# open-carry policies there if you have a permit.

AMNA NAWAZ: We also know that# the homeland security secretary,## Kristi Noem, her top aide, Corey Lewandowski,## had a two-hour meeting last night at the# White House.

What do we know about that?

LIZ LANDERS: The New York Times reported that## they requested the meeting with the# president in the Oval Office with a## number of top White House officials to# talk about what happened in Minnesota.

And, apparently, the president is still backing# Noem.

He said today that he has confidence in her,## that she's not going to step down.# He said she's doing a very good job.

And I also want to add, Amna, that, within the# last few minutes, the Department of Homeland## Security has sent a note to Congress with more# information about what actually happened in## the Pretti shooting, saying that two federal# officers fired shots on Saturday.

That's new.

AMNA NAWAZ: We should also note that, during# all this criticism of ICE, the president is## in Iowa today.

He's giving a speech about the# economy.

Tell us what we should know about that.

LIZ LANDERS: The president and the White# House has wanted to refocus the message## on affordability.

We heard the White# House press secretary talking about that.

The president touting while he's been on the# ground in Iowa that gas prices are down there,## that his tax bill that passed over the# summer will be cutting taxes on tips,## Social Security, some of those other# signature issues that he's been discussing.

But this is also a political visit that he's# making.

Iowa has several key midterm races.## We're in a midterm election year now.

There# is an important Senate race there, governor's## race.

And there are even congressional# races, Like Congresswoman Miller-Meeks,## who won her seat by a mere 800 or# so votes in last year's election.

So there was some good old-fashioned campaigning# that he was doing on the ground there at a diner## earlier today, talking with Iowans, touting# some of his policies, also talking politics.

AMNA NAWAZ: All right, our# White House correspondent,## Liz Landers, beginning our coverage tonight.

Liz, thank you.