U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said federal authorities are prepared to intervene in Minnesota if state and local leaders do not more fully support law enforcement. In a Fox News interview focused on unrest in Minneapolis and federal immigration enforcement, Bondi said her office delivered what she called a “very strong letter” to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and she questioned how state and city officials have responded to recent protests and federal operations.
“I do not understand these people,” Bondi said. “We sent Governor Tim Walz a very strong letter today. He better support President Trump and the men and women in law enforcement, because if he doesn’t, we are—and that is what we are doing right now.”
Bondi argued the tensions in Minneapolis are tied to long-standing sanctuary-style policies, claiming local leadership has created conditions that protect undocumented immigrants from federal enforcement and, in her view, encourage criminal activity. She said city leadership has effectively made it easier for serious offenders to remain in the community, while officials focus their criticism on federal agencies rather than public safety.
Bondi said recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minneapolis targeted violent offenders. She cited a range of crimes she said were connected to individuals in the country illegally, including sexual assault, rape, and robbery, and blamed Democratic leadership for allowing dangerous individuals to remain in the area. In addition to criticizing Gov. Walz, she also pointed to President Joe Biden and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as responsible for policies she believes contributed to the situation.
Bondi said she had been in Minneapolis during the past week and described federal law enforcement actions as necessary to protect residents and religious institutions, including churches and synagogues. She emphasized that the Trump administration considers support for law enforcement a core priority and said federal agencies would act when local officials, in the administration’s view, refuse to do so.
The interview also addressed protests that followed recent arrests. Bondi described what she said she observed as unusually coordinated, pointing to organized signage and the widespread use of gas masks among protesters. She argued the demonstrations were intended to disrupt law enforcement operations and warned that federal authorities would not tolerate interference with officers carrying out their duties.
Bondi was asked about whether outside groups could be influencing the unrest and what the federal investigation may involve. She confirmed that subpoenas have been issued to Mayor Frey and Gov. Walz, but said she could not provide additional detail because it relates to a pending criminal investigation. She noted that both officials have publicly acknowledged receiving subpoenas connected to a federal grand jury.
Bondi also criticized public comments from Walz and Frey urging federal immigration authorities to leave the city, arguing that such statements inflame tensions and undermine law enforcement. She singled out Frey’s remarks toward ICE as especially provocative and said local leaders were framing federal actions as threats rather than measures intended to protect communities.
Asked what might come next, Bondi said the administration would closely watch Walz’s response and suggested federal involvement would continue if state and local officials do not cooperate. She said multiple agencies are already engaged and described a broad federal footprint on the ground.
According to Bondi, the Department of Justice is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security and has deployed additional support from the FBI, DEA, and ATF to Minneapolis. She added that while President Trump has discussed the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, no decision has been made, describing the situation as evolving.
Throughout the interview, Bondi returned to the administration’s view that federal authorities have a duty to act when local officials, in their judgment, fail to maintain order. Her warning to Gov. Walz underscored that message: the White House and the Justice Department, she said, are ready to escalate their response if Minnesota’s leadership does not change course.
