Trump Threatens Troops in Minnesota Over Protests

President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to invoke the Insurrection Act and send US troops to Minnesota to stop protests that turned violent after a man was shot in the leg by an ICE agent. The warning came as crowds clashed with federal agents in Minneapolis, where unrest has grown over the past week following the shooting death of Renee Good by ICE officers.

Background

Minneapolis has seen protests for about a week now, sparked by the death of Renee Good, who was shot by ICE agents one week ago. Good died during an encounter with immigration officers, and that set off demonstrations against federal presence in the city. Overnight Wednesday into Thursday, things got worse. Protesters gathered again, and there was another shooting where a man allegedly assaulted a federal agent and got shot in the leg.

Federal agents from ICE have been in Minneapolis for about six weeks. They showed up to carry out immigration work, but local leaders say they have made things worse. The city has a history of big protests. Five years ago, the killing of George Floyd by police led to days of violence and unrest across the country. People still remember that time, and many fear Minneapolis is heading back there.

Trump has watched these events closely from Washington. His administration sent ICE agents to the area earlier, and now protests have blocked streets and led to fights with law enforcement. State and city officials have pushed back against the federal moves, saying they stir up trouble instead of solving problems.

Key Details

Trump made his threat in a public post early Thursday morning. He said Minnesota politicians must follow the law and stop what he called professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking ICE workers. If they do not, he said he would use the Insurrection Act to deploy troops and put an end to the chaos.

The Insurrection Act is an old law from centuries ago. It lets the president send active-duty US military troops onto American streets without asking state leaders for permission. Presidents have used it before during big riots or when local police could not handle crowds. Trump threatened something similar five years ago during the George Floyd protests but did not follow through.

The Latest Shooting

The new shooting happened late Wednesday night. A man approached a federal agent, allegedly tried to assault him, and was shot in the leg. Details are still coming out. Minnesota officials have not released much information yet, and federal reports say the agent acted to protect himself. Protesters saw it as another example of too much force from ICE.

Overnight, crowds grew larger and more chaotic. Federal agents used shields, batons, and less-lethal weapons to push back the groups. They moved in tight formations to clear streets and break up gatherings. Local police stayed back, leaving most of the response to federal teams. Witnesses described tense scenes with yelling, pushing, and some injuries on both sides.

Robin Wonsley, a member of the Minneapolis City Council, spoke about the situation on Thursday. She said Trump has wanted to do this since ICE first came to town six weeks ago.

"Essentially what Trump has been inching to do since he first deployed ICE agents to Minneapolis about 6 weeks ago was really to build to this place where he can normalize using his administrative powers to go to war with local cities who do not fall in alignment with his administration's political goals."

– Robin Wonsley, Minneapolis City Council member

Wonsley called for ICE to leave Minnesota right away. She said city leaders must work to protect residents and keep civil liberties safe.

CNN reporter Alayna Treene, speaking from the White House, called the threat a big step up. She noted past hesitations due to legal and political issues with putting military in US cities.

Former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe said Minneapolis is like a powder keg. He pointed to the chaos overnight, the rising violence, and the heavy-handed way agents responded. McCabe said the small federal force focused on tactics over talking to protesters, which made things worse.

What This Means

If Trump uses the Insurrection Act, it would mark a rare move. Troops on the streets could change how protests are handled. Military units train for war, not crowd control, so their presence might lead to more clashes or calm things down fast. Legal experts say the Act gives the president wide power, but courts could step in if challenged.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has not commented directly yet, but state leaders have clashed with federal agents before. They argue ICE tactics do not fit local needs and make divisions deeper. City officials worry about more violence if troops arrive.

Protests could spread if troops show up. Five years ago, George Floyd unrest went to other cities. People across the country watch Minneapolis now, especially with immigration a hot topic. Trump's base supports strong action against what they see as lawlessness, while opponents fear it steps on rights.

Federal agents plan to keep working in the area. ICE says their job is to enforce immigration laws, and attacks on agents will not stop them. Local groups plan more rallies to demand the agents leave. Talks between state, city, and federal leaders could happen soon to ease tensions.

The shooting details matter a lot. If investigations show the agent was right to shoot, it strengthens the federal side. If not, protests might grow bigger. Right now, both sides wait for facts from Minnesota officials.

Trump's post puts pressure on local politicians. He called them corrupt and said they must act. This could force quick meetings or changes in how protests are managed. For now, Minneapolis stays on edge, with more crowds expected tonight.