US President Donald Trump has been warned He could invoke the Sedition Act to deploy US troops in Minnesota if state officials do not act to quell protests against federal immigration officials, who he said are “just trying to do their job”.
His warning came as widespread protests and political tension followed two recent shootings in Minneapolis — Minnesota’s largest city — involving federal immigration agents. It includes the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good37, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer.
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Here’s what we know:
What did Donald Trump say?
On Thursday, Trump threatened in a social media post that he could use the Sedition Act to crack down on protesters in Minnesota.
“If Minnesota’s corrupt politicians don’t follow the law and stop professional protesters and rioters from attacking ICE’s patriots who are just trying to do their jobs, I will institute sedition laws,” Trump said on his Truth social platform.
After the post, White House press secretary Carolyn Levitt told reporters that Trump alone would decide if and when to enforce the century-old law.
“It’s just a question … the president can answer, but the Sedition Act is a tool at the president’s disposal,” Leavitt said.
“I think the president’s truth social posts spoke very loud and clear to Democrats across the country, elected officials who are using their platforms to promote violence against federal law enforcement officers, who are encouraging left-wing protesters to illegally disrupt legitimate law enforcement operations,” she added.
Democrats, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and members of the state’s Congress, have pushed back against accusations by the Trump administration and allied Republicans that ICE is inciting protesters against ICE.
Instead, they have criticized the behavior of ICE officials and accused the Trump administration of using the enforcement agency to sow chaos and violence in Minneapolis.
Meanwhile, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem said she has discussed the possibility of using the Sedition Act with the president.
“They certainly have a constitutional right to use it,” Nome told reporters outside the White House.
What is the Mutiny Act of 1807 and what does it do?
The Sedition Act An 1807 law that allows the US president to deploy federal military forces into the country to restore order and enforce law.
When the law is enacted, it temporarily overrides another rule that normally prevents the military from enforcing civilian law. It can be used by the president if he decides that unrest or insurgency makes it impossible to enforce the law through regular courts and police.
The law does not clearly define what counts as “rebellion” or “insurrection”. In an 1827 decision, the US Supreme Court held that only the president has the authority to decide when a law takes effect.
Legal experts say that sedition law is used only in extreme cases, when normal law enforcement breaks down.
According to the Brennan Center for Justice, it has been used 30 times in US history to enforce school desegregation in the 1950s and 1960s.
The last instance was used in the 1992 Los Angeles riots after the acquittal of police officers who beat Rodney King, a black man. Republican George HW Bush was president at the time.
However, this is not the first time Trump has threatened to invoke the Sedition Act.
Last July, when the courts blocked the president’s efforts to deploy the National Guard in Portland, Trump threatened to use the Sedition Act to bypass legal challenges.
How is Minnesota government responding?
Minnesota Governor Walz called on President Trump to dial back his rhetoric and ease tensions in the state.
“I’m making a direct appeal to the president: Let’s lower the temperature. Stop this campaign for change. This is not us.”
And he added a message to Minnesotans. “I know it’s scary. We – we – can speak loudly, urgently, but calmly. We can’t fan the flames of chaos. That’s what he wants,” Walz posted on X.
Minneapolis Mayor Frey, meanwhile, wrote on X that “Minnesota needs to release ICE, not an increase that would bring additional federal troops beyond the 3,000 already there.”
On Wednesday night, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Walz and Frey, both Democrats, needed to be stopped from “terrorism.”
“The Minnesota riots are a direct result of a failed governor and a terrible mayor who encourages violence against law enforcement. It’s disgusting,” Blanche posted on X. “Walz and Frey – I’m focused on stopping you from your terrorism by any means necessary. This is not a threat. This is a promise.”
What has happened to the state and how did we get here?
Protests and unrest erupted in Minneapolis, Minnesota, following the fatal shooting of a federal immigration officer earlier this month.
On January 7, an ICE officer shot and killed a 37-year-old man Renee Nicole Good She was sitting in her car during a federal immigration operation.
Federal authorities said the officer acted in self-defense, claiming Good used her vehicle as a weapon.
City leaders said Good, an award-winning poet, was present as a legal observer monitoring ICE activities. Her death prompted vigils and protests, with protesters accusing federal agents of using excessive force.
The shooting comes amid a major federal immigration crackdown that has led to a heavy law-enforcement presence in the Twin Cities, a metropolitan area in Minnesota centered around its two largest cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, said residents reported aggressive tactics by masked agents, such as stopping vehicles and detaining people. Federal officials have denied wrongdoing.
The protests drew national attention, and a few days later, actors Mark Ruffalo and Wanda Sykes wore badges referencing ICE and Goodes’ death at the Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles on January 11.
“This is for Renee Nicole Goode, who was murdered,” Ruffalo told local media, referring to his “Be Goode” pin.
Tensions flared again on January 14 when another federal official Julio Cesar Sosa-Sales shotA Venezuelan citizen without legal status, on foot during a traffic stop.
DHS said the officer was attempting to make a targeted arrest when Sosa-Celis and two other men attacked him with shovels and broom handles.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said the officer feared for his life and dropped his weapon. Both the officer and Sosa-Celis were taken to the hospital and are out of danger.
Later that night, protesters clashed with police in parts of Minneapolis. Authorities fired tear gas, while many protesters threw stones and fireworks.
How do Americans feel about these recent events?
Vice President JD Vance said Goode’s death was “her own tragedy,” but polls suggest many Americans disagree.
A Yahoo/YouGov poll of 1,709 US adults conducted between January 8 and 12 found that only 27 percent of respondents thought the shooting was justified. In contrast, 52 percent said it was not fair.
Public concern goes beyond this single incident.
Independent polls show many Americans think Trump is going too far in exercising presidential authority. An AP-NORC poll found that 62 percent of Americans trust Trump has exceeded His right to pursue his goals.
That view extends to many policy areas, including federal law enforcement, tariffs, and foreign policy application.
On the specific issue of deploying federal forces in Minnesota, another YouGov poll found more opposition than support, with 51 percent opposed and 34 percent in favor. Support was high among Republicans, while most Democrats and independents opposed the decision.