Trump Threatens to Use Insurrection Act in Minneapolis

President Trump on Thursday warned that he may invoke the Insurrection Act to address escalating unrest in Minneapolis, a move that would allow the deployment of U.S. military troops to the city’s streets if federal authorities determine local officials are unable or unwilling to restore order.

Trump issued the warning on Truth Social, criticizing Minnesota leaders and saying the state had failed to protect federal immigration officers. He said the law could be used to stop what he described as coordinated attacks on ICE personnel and ongoing disorder in the city.

The statement followed a violent confrontation Wednesday in which a federal officer shot a man in the leg after authorities say the officer was attacked with a shovel and a broom handle. The incident further intensified tensions in Minneapolis, which has been on edge since an immigration agent fatally shot a woman during an enforcement operation the previous week.

President Trump has previously raised the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act during periods of unrest, including during protests in Portland, arguing that the federal government has a responsibility to protect law enforcement officers and restore public safety when local leadership fails to act.

Late Wednesday night, smoke filled the streets near the site of the latest shooting as federal officers wearing helmets and gas masks deployed tear gas into a crowd. Some protesters responded by throwing rocks and setting off fireworks. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara declared the gathering an unlawful assembly and ordered people to leave the area.

By early Thursday morning, the situation had largely calmed, with fewer demonstrators and law enforcement officers remaining at the scene.

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