Trump says federal law enforcement won't respond to protests in 'Democrat Cities' until they 'ask for help' [View all]

Source: NBC News

Jan. 31, 2026, 6:30 PM EST


President Donald Trump said Saturday that federal law enforcement will not respond to protests or riots in “poorly run Democrat Cities” until support is requested, but will still protect federal property.

“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 wrote on Truth Social. “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,” the post continued.

The president’s statement comes just hours after a federal judge declined to immediately halt Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, allowing the sweeping federal immigration enforcement action there to continue.

Trump said local governments are responsible for protecting state, local and federal property, writing that “we are there to protect Federal Property, only as a back up, in that it is Local and State Responsibility to do so.”

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-says-federal-law-enforcement-wont-respond-protests-democrat-citi-rcna256883