In January, President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the insurrection act to deploy troops in Minnesota to end the protests occurring in the state. An rarely used act that gives the president “limited authority to use the Armed Forces to suppress insurrection or rebellion and quell domestic violence.” Having been signed in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson, it makes an expectation and overturns the Posse Comitatus Act which prohibits the President from using such forces. 

Many anti-Ice protests occurred when federal immigration agents were deployed into the state in December  to do “ a sweeping crackdown tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents.” Protests have increased ever since the  fatal shooting of a 37 year old woman, Renee Good by an ICE Officer on Jan 7th; and 17 days later, Alex Pretti, a 37 year old man who was also fatally shot by federal immigration agents.

 Trump wrote about what has been occurring in Minnesota and how he may handle the conflicts that have been happening recently.
“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State”  President Trump wrote on his truth social account and quoted by Juliana Kim & Alana Wise (2026) Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act (again). What is it?

Due to the act having an open ended description, it “leaves it up to the president to determine when it should be invoked,” stated Stefan Becket (2026) in his CBS new online article. The most recent use of it was in 1992, by the request of a California governor, in Los Angeles.

Responses

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Vice President JD Vance on WATCH: Vance says Trump administration doesn’t think Insurrection Act is needed ‘right now’ Youtube, unloaded by PBS News hours, 22 Jan.2026.  When explaining what the Act was about, said that, “Right now, we don’t think we need that. The president could change his mind, of course things could get worse but right now we think that federal law offices can do the job of federal law enforcement.”

  Juliana Kim and Alana Wise (2026), “Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act (again). What is it?” Minnesota General attorney Keith Ellison said that the president has “no grounds to invoke the Insurrection Act” and was willing to challenge it in court if invoked. 

Article references

Kim & Wise.(2026).Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act (again). What is it?https://www.npr.org/2026/01/15/nx-s1-5678612/minneapolis-insurrection-act-trump-threats)  

Becket.(2026).What is the Insurrection Act, and why is Trump threatening to invoke it in Minnesota?https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-insurrection-act-minnesota/ 

Kapah and  Walsh.(2026). Everything we know about Minnesota’s massive fraud schemes.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/minnesota-fraud-schemes-what-we-know/

The Insurrection Act.https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2070/text#:~:text=A%20BILL,SECTION%201.

 Edern, Lum, Rosales, Shao,Willis & Wu.(2026).Timeline: A Moment-by-Moment Look at the Shooting of Alex Pretti.https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/01/24/us/minneapolis-shooting-alex-pretti-timeline.html

Pbs Newhours WATCH: Vance says Trump administration doesn’t think Insurrection Act is needed ‘right now’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEF-qAYZ65o