President Trump said Saturday he won’t send feds to quell protests or riots in “poorly run” Democratic cities – unless they specifically ask for help.
The president spelled out the new rules for federal action and deployments in a Truth Social post, a day after anti-ICE protests erupted in Los Angeles and in Eugene, Oregon.
Cities must not allow lawless acts such as spitting on officers, and must protect federal property, said the president.
“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,” Trump posted Saturday afternoon.
“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.”
Trump made references to invitations by local authorities, while the administration faces lawsuits in Minneapolis, Chicago and other cities who argued against the insertion of federal forces, including ICE. Trump himself called to de-escalate the situation after Border Patrol agents shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last Saturday.
“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,” Trump said.
“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,” he wrote.
“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.’”
Trump, who termed the protests against his original immigration enforcement efforts in LA as “The Los Angeles riots,” laced his statement with plenty of tough language and threats.
“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,” Trump wrote.
The post comes a day after thousands took to the streets of Los Angeles in rowdy anti-ICE demonstrations, and a week after Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti was shot and killed by ICE agents, which sparked numerous violent protests.
“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.’
“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,” Trump wrote.
Along with LA, protesters in Eugene, Oregon also wreaked havoc Friday night, the president said.
“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.”
Eugene police confirmed protesters “breached the building and went inside,” though authorities claimed they intervened to keep the situation “de-escalated.”
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