Minnesota's Democrat leadership is about to learn what happens when you side with rioters over law enforcement.
Trump's latest warning came after the second ICE shooting in Minneapolis this week.
And Trump threatened Minnesota with the Insurrection Act after Democrats did this one thing.
Trump Threatens Insurrection Act After Second ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
President Trump warned Thursday he will invoke the Insurrection Act if Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey don't stop inciting violence against ICE agents.
"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, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump's warning follows Wednesday's shooting where an ICE agent fired at a suspected illegal immigrant who attacked him with a shovel during an arrest attempt.
The Department of Homeland Security said the agent shot the suspect in the leg after "fearing for his life and safety" when the individual "violently assaulted the officer."
This marks the second ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis in recent days.
On January 7, ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot Renee Nicole Good after she allegedly tried to ram federal agents with her vehicle.
Federal agents have faced escalating violence from protesters and obstruction from Democrat politicians since DHS launched what they called the largest immigration enforcement operation in history — sending 2,000 agents to Minneapolis.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Tells Protesters to Film ICE Agents for 'Future Prosecution'
Both Walz and Frey have made inflammatory statements encouraging Minnesotans to confront and obstruct federal law enforcement.
During a televised address Wednesday, Walz told residents to "take out that phone and hit record" whenever they see ICE agents.
"Help us create a database of the atrocities against Minnesotans, not just to establish a record for posterity, but to bank evidence for future prosecution," Walz said.
He called the federal immigration enforcement "a campaign of organized brutality" and demanded Trump "end this occupation."
Frey went even further, telling ICE agents to "get the fuck out of Minneapolis" during a press conference following the Good shooting.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche accused both men of inciting an "insurrection" through their rhetoric.
"Minnesota insurrection is a direct result of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence against law enforcement," Blanche wrote on social media.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called their actions "terrorism" and said they were guilty of "inciting violence."
"You can use the term insurgency, you can use the term insurrection, you can use the term domestic terrorism," Miller told Fox News.
The Department of Homeland Security chastised Walz and Frey for "actively encouraging an organized resistance to ICE and federal law enforcement officers."
Protesters have attacked ICE agents with shovels, blocked their vehicles, thrown rocks and fireworks, and created chaos in Minneapolis streets.
Federal agents responded Wednesday night with tear gas and pepper balls after hundreds of "violent rioters swarmed them, assaulted them, and blocked their path," according to DHS.
Insurrection Act Would Deploy Federal Troops Over Minnesota's Objections
The Insurrection Act dates back to 1807 and allows the President to deploy the military to suppress rebellions and enforce federal laws.
If Trump invokes it, he can federalize the National Guard and deploy active duty forces to restore order in Minnesota.
The Act temporarily overrides the Posse Comitatus Act, which normally restricts military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
It was last invoked in 1992 when President George H.W. Bush deployed federal troops to Los Angeles following the Rodney King riots — but that deployment came at the request of California's governor.
No president has invoked it without a state's request since 1965, when Lyndon Johnson protected civil rights marchers in Alabama.
Trump is prepared to be the first president in 60 years to use federal military force over a governor's objections.
The difference between 1992 and today is stark.
Los Angeles was burning — 63 people died, businesses were torched, and a billion dollars in property damage occurred before Bush sent in troops.
Minnesota hasn't reached that level of violence, but Trump is signaling he won't wait for it to escalate that far.
Walz authorized the Minnesota National Guard to support local law enforcement, but he's using them to help protesters obstruct federal agents — not to maintain order.
Trump's viewing this as a clear case of state officials siding with "insurrectionists" over federal law enforcement officers just doing their jobs.
Since Charlie Kirk's assassination on September 10, 2025, Trump has taken an aggressive stance on domestic terrorism and violence against conservatives.
The administration isn't waiting for situations to spiral out of control before taking decisive action.
Walz and Frey created this crisis by encouraging resistance to federal law enforcement.
Their inflammatory rhetoric directly led to the violence ICE agents now face daily in Minneapolis.
Trump just told them the party's over.
Either Minnesota's Democrat leaders restore order and stop inciting violence, or Trump will deploy the full force of federal military power to do it for them.
Sources:
- Greg Norman-Diamond, "Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act in Minnesota if agitators keep attacking federal officers," Fox News, January 15, 2026.
- "Minneapolis and federal officials are no longer cooperating on ICE shooting investigation," NPR, January 8, 2026.
- "Killing of Renee Good," Wikipedia, January 15, 2026.
- "The Insurrection Act, Explained," Brennan Center for Justice.
- "When has the Insurrection Act been officially invoked," Factually.co, January 15, 2026.
- "Trump threatens to use Insurrection Act to deploy troops to Minnesota," CBS News, January 15, 2026.
- "Donald Trump Threatens Minnesota With Insurrection Act," Newsweek, January 15, 2026.
- "Trump threatens to use the Insurrection Act to 'put an end' to protests in Minneapolis," OPB, January 15, 2026.
