BREAKING: Trump Invokes Insurrection Act, Deploys National Guard to Minneapolis Amid Unrest, Accuses State and Local Leaders
Minneapolis, Minnesota
In a dramatic escalation of the federal response to ongoing protests in Minneapolis, President Donald Trump announced late tonight that he is invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807, authorizing the immediate deployment of active-duty military forces to “restore order.” The move bypasses the objections of state and local officials and plunges the nation into a profound constitutional crisis over the use of military force on American soil.
The President, in a hastily convened address from the White House, framed the decision as a necessary response to what he termed “anarchy and domestic terror” in the streets of Minneapolis. He placed direct blame for the violence on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of “weakness” and “effectively inciting unrest by their failure to act decisively.”
“These Democrat leaders have lost control of their city and their state,” President Trump declared. “They are aiding and abetting lawlessness. My administration will not stand by and let homes, businesses, and the lives of innocent citizens be destroyed. Order will be maintained, by force if necessary.”
The invocation of the Insurrection Act, a law last used during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, allows the president to deploy U.S. military troops to suppress civil disorder, rebellion, or insurrection. This follows a week of escalating tensions where protests over police brutality and racial injustice have seen increasingly violent clashes between demonstrators and a combination of local police, state patrol, and federal agents from agencies like Homeland Security.
Governor Walz, who had already activated the Minnesota National Guard, issued a furious rebuke minutes after the President’s announcement. “This is not a solution; it is an occupation,” Walz stated. “The President is abdicating his role as a unifier and choosing instead to pour gasoline on the fire of division. We were managing a difficult situation, and his unlawful overreach will only make it more dangerous.”
Mayor Jacob Frey echoed the sentiment, saying, “The people of Minneapolis are demanding justice and reform, not a military invasion. This reckless action will undermine community trust and likely lead to greater violence.”
On the ground in Minneapolis, the atmosphere shifted from protest to a palpable sense of siege following the news. Earlier in the evening, confrontations near the 5th Police Precinct saw protesters launching fireworks and projectiles at lines of federal officers in riot gear, who responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades. Several fires were set in dumpsters and portable structures. Medical tents reported treating dozens for respiratory distress and minor injuries.
Legal experts immediately questioned the legality of the move. “The Insurrection Act typically requires a state’s request or a determination that state authorities are unable to enforce the law,” explained constitutional law professor [Name]. “The President is asserting that failure, but Governor Walz’s explicit rejection of the need for federal troops creates a direct conflict. This will be challenged in court immediately.”
