President Donald Trump said Saturday on Truth Social that his administration will not get involved in managing protests or riots in what he called “poorly run Democrat Cities” unless local leaders specifically request federal help.
Trump said he has directed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to keep federal forces focused on protecting federal buildings during demonstrations, rather than assisting with state or local property unless asked.
His statement followed Friday’s wave of “no work, no school, no shopping” actions held in multiple places nationwide, organized in opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The protests unfolded amid anger over the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, and Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three, by federal agents in Minneapolis this month.
Why It Matters
Trump’s announcement sets new conditions for federal involvement during civil unrest and revives an ongoing standoff between the administration and Democratic-led cities such as Chicago, Portland, Oregon, Los Angeles and Minneapolis.
The posture signals a shift in how federal and local authorities may coordinate during large demonstrations: cities would need to explicitly ask for assistance, while the federal government maintains authority over federal buildings and property. The approach echoes last year’s clashes, including backlash after Trump suggested using cities as “training grounds for our military” during a speech at Quantico Marine Corps Base.
What To Know
Trump laid out parameters for federal action during local protests: federal forces would guard federal buildings, but would not help protect state or local property unless invited in by local officials. He also warned against attacks on federal officers or government property, saying those responsible “will suffer an equal, or more, consequence.”
He added that federal assistance would only come when local governments “use the word, ‘PLEASE,’” and said ICE, Border Patrol, or military forces would be “extremely powerful and tough” in defending federal property. Trump pointed to Eugene, Oregon, claiming “criminals broke into a Federal Building” while “Local Police did nothing.”
Trump was referring to an incident Friday following an hours-long protest at the Federal Building in downtown Eugene, where windows were reportedly broken.
“The activity at the Federal Building at 211 E. 7th Avenue was declared a riot at approximately 6 p.m. on January 30,” the Eugene Police Department said in a statement. “People were admonished to leave the area. There were breaches in entry points. Some protesters breached the building and went inside. Occupants include civilian staff.”
Friday’s nationwide actions included demonstrations across multiple states. In Minneapolis, hundreds gathered at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, where demonstrators jeered at DHS agents. In Michigan, students at Groves High School walked out in zero-degree temperatures. In Los Angeles, thousands marched to a federal detention center where federal agents reportedly deployed chemical sprays.
Some schools in Arizona, Colorado and other states canceled classes in anticipation of mass absences. Some businesses closed for the “blackout,” while others said they donated proceeds to immigrant-support organizations.
Authorities also reported incidents tied to the protests. On Thursday, a student in Nebraska was hit by an SUV displaying a Trump flag during a protest outside Fremont High School. The student was hospitalized, though officials did not release details about the injuries.
The use of federal forces in cities has been a major flashpoint for the administration. In 2025, National Guard troops were deployed in Washington, D.C., and federal agents were sent to Chicago, Portland, Oregon, and Memphis, Tennessee, as part of what Trump described as efforts to “fight the enemy from within.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told NPR at the time that Trump was attempting to “occupy the city and violate the U.S. Constitution.”
President Trump’s Full Truth Social Statement
“I have instructed Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, that under no circumstances are we going to participate in various poorly run Democrat Cities with regard to their Protests and/or Riots unless, and until, they ask us for help. We will, however, guard, and very powerfully so, any and all Federal Buildings that are being attacked by these highly paid Lunatics, Agitators, and Insurrectionists. Please be aware that I have instructed ICE and/or Border Patrol to be very forceful in this protection of Federal Government Property. There will be no spitting in the faces of our Officers, there will be no punching or kicking the headlights of our cars, and there will be no rock or brick throwing at our vehicles, or at our Patriot Warriors. If there is, those people will suffer an equal, or more, consequence. In the meantime, by copy of this Statement, I am informing Local Governments, as I did in Los Angeles when they were rioting at the end of the Biden Term, that you must protect your own State and Local Property.
In addition, it is your obligation to also protect our Federal Property, Buildings, Parks, and everything else. We are there to protect Federal Property, only as a back up, in that it is Local and State Responsibility to do so. Last night in Eugene, Oregon, these criminals broke into a Federal Building, and did great damage, also scaring and harassing the hardworking employees. Local Police did nothing in order to stop it. We will not let that happen anymore! If Local Governments are unable to handle the Insurrectionists, Agitators, and Anarchists, we will immediately go to the location where such help is requested, and take care of the situation very easily and methodically, just as we did the Los Angeles Riots one year ago, where the Police Chief said that, ‘We couldn’t have done it without the help of the Federal Government.’ Therefore, to all complaining Local Governments, Governors, and Mayors, let us know when you are ready, and we will be there — But, before we do so, you must use the word, ‘PLEASE.’
Remember that I stated, in the strongest of language, to BEWARE — ICE, Border Patrol or, if necessary, our Military, will be extremely powerful and tough in the protection of our Federal Property. We will not allow our Courthouses, Federal Buildings, or anything else under our protection, to be damaged in any way, shape, or form. I was elected on a Policy of Border Control (which has now been perfected!), National Security, and LAW AND ORDER — That’s what America wants, and that’s what America is getting! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
What Happens Next
More protests are expected around the country as tensions remain high over immigration enforcement operations.
