“I Will End This Travesty”: Trump Threatens to Invoke Insurrection Act as Minnesota Protests Rage
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has issued a severe ultimatum to protesters in Minnesota, threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 and deploy active-duty military troops to quell ongoing anti-ICE demonstrations.
The threat marks a significant escalation in the standoff between the White House and Democratic state leaders over the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics.
Quick Read
- The Threat: President Trump posted on Truth Social yesterday, warning he will “institute the INSURRECTION ACT” if Minnesota politicians do not stop “professional agitators” from attacking federal agents.
- The Trigger: Protests have rocked Minneapolis for over a week following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman, by an ICE agent during a deportation raid.
- Escalation: Tensions boiled over Wednesday night when another man was shot in the leg by federal agents during a traffic stop, leading to clashes involving tear gas and stun grenades.
- State Pushback: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has called the federal presence an “occupation” and a “campaign of organized brutality,” urging the President to de-escalate.
Detailed Story: A City on Edge
MINNEAPOLIS — What began as a local protest against immigration raids has spiraled into a potential constitutional crisis. On Thursday, President Trump signaled his readiness to use military force on American soil, a move that legal experts say would be unprecedented in this context.
“Professional Agitators and Insurrectionists”
In a blistering statement released on his social media platform, President Trump defended the federal agents operating in the city.
“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT… and quickly put an end to the travesty,” Trump wrote.
Administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, have backed the President’s stance, describing the situation on the ground as “violent” and refusing to withdraw federal assets.
The Spark: “Operation Midway Blitz”
The unrest stems from a massive federal operation dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz,” which has seen thousands of ICE agents deployed to the state.
- Fatal Encounter: On January 7, Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent inside her vehicle. The administration claims the agent acted in self-defense, but videos from the scene have fueled public outrage.
- New Incident: On Wednesday, a Venezuelan man was shot in the leg by agents who claimed he attacked them with a shovel. This incident triggered fresh waves of street protests.
Governor Walz: “This is an Occupation”
State officials are fiercely opposing the federal intervention. Governor Tim Walz described the agents as “undertrained” and accused them of “kidnapping innocent people with no warning”.
- Legal Action: The state Attorney General, Keith Ellison, has vowed to challenge any invocation of the Insurrection Act in court, arguing there is no legal basis for it since local law enforcement has not failed.
What is the Insurrection Act?
The Insurrection Act of 1807 gives the U.S. President the power to deploy military forces within the United States to suppress rebellion or enforce federal laws.
- Rarely Used: It was last invoked in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush during the Los Angeles riots.
- Legal Debate: Unlike the National Guard, which is often under state control, the Insurrection Act allows the President to bypass state governors entirely if he deems it necessary to enforce federal law.