U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem not to intervene in protests taking place in cities governed by Democrats unless local authorities formally request federal assistance.
The announcement was made through the president’s social media platform, where he indicated that the federal government would not participate in protests or unrest in those cities “unless and until we are asked for help.” He did not specify how this directive would affect operations by agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to The Associated Press.
Despite the directive, Trump clarified that the federal government will aggressively protect federal buildings that may be targeted during demonstrations and ordered ICE and the Border Patrol to strengthen those security measures.
Speaking to reporters later, Trump said that Democrat-led cities frequently criticize federal intervention and that if they want assistance, they must explicitly request it. He added that he believes those cities will likely end up asking for support.
The directive comes amid an environment in which federal forces have already been deployed in cities including Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland, generating opposition from local authorities, particularly in Minnesota.
State and municipal officials in Minneapolis and St. Paul have questioned DHS actions, alleging potential constitutional violations. A federal judge has allowed operations to continue while ongoing litigation is resolved.