Donald Trump on Thursday warned that he may invoke the Insurrection Act amid rising unrest in Minneapolis following a second shooting involving a federal agent. The law would give the president authority to deploy U.S. armed forces domestically to restore order.
In a Truth Social post, Trump criticized Minnesota’s political leadership, accusing state officials of failing to control what he described as organized agitators targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. He said that if state authorities do not act to enforce the law and halt the violence, he would move forward with invoking the Insurrection Act.
The warning came after a night of clashes between protesters and federal agents in Minneapolis. Tensions intensified after federal officials said an officer shot a Venezuelan man who allegedly fled a traffic stop and later attacked the agent.
Protests have been spreading nationwide since last week, when an immigration agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three. That incident has fueled growing demonstrations against the Trump administration, with critics condemning what they view as aggressive immigration enforcement practices.
Authorities say the situation remains volatile as officials work to prevent further escalation.
What is Insurrection Act?
The Insurrection Act is a U.S. federal law that allows the president to deploy the military inside the United States under specific circumstances to restore order and enforce federal authority.
What the Insurrection Act Does
The law gives the president power to use active-duty military or the National Guard on U.S. soil when:
-
State authorities cannot or will not control violence
-
Federal laws are being obstructed
-
Civil rights are being denied and states fail to act
-
There is an insurrection, rebellion, or large-scale unrest
Unlike normal situations where the military is barred from civilian law enforcement, the Insurrection Act is a legal exception.
When It Can Be Used
The president can invoke it if:
-
A state requests help (for example, during riots or natural disasters)
-
A state refuses or fails to protect constitutional rights
-
Violence makes it impossible to enforce federal law
Importantly, the president does not need approval from Congress or state governors to invoke it.
Why It’s Controversial
-
It allows soldiers to perform policing roles
-
Critics say it risks abuse of power
-
Supporters argue it’s necessary during extreme breakdowns of law and order
-
It overrides the Posse Comitatus Act, which normally limits military involvement in civilian policing
Historical Uses
The Insurrection Act has been invoked during:
-
Civil rights enforcement in the 1950s–60s
-
Urban riots in the 1960s
-
The 1992 Los Angeles riots
Why It Matters Now
When a president threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act, it signals that the federal government may step in directly and forcefully if unrest continues and local authorities are deemed ineffective.