Trump made it clear Saturday that federal law enforcement will not step in to deal with the riots and protests plaguing these poorly run Democrat cities unless their own officials come begging for assistance.
In a Truth Social post on January 31, 2026, Trump wrote, "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."
He made it plain that federal forces will defend federal property with full force, but the rest of the chaos is the responsibility of the governors and mayors who allowed it to spiral out of control.
Aboard Air Force One later that day, Trump told reporters bluntly, "Cities are all Democrat-run cities, and if they want help, they have to ask for it. Because if we go in, all they do is complain."
Trump added that any request must include the word "please.
The statement follows weeks of violent anti-ICE demonstrations, especially in Minneapolis, where federal raids ended with the deaths of two American citizens, those being far-left extremists Renee Good on January 7, 2026, and Alex Pretti on January 24, 2026.
Those shootings triggered nationwide liberal protests on January 30, 2026, with thousands marching in dozens of cities against immigration enforcement.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has repeatedly demanded that federal agents get out of his city, falsely accusing them of "terrorizing communities." The same tired (false) complaints are heard from every other Democrat stronghold facing a crackdown.
Trump's directive throws the responsibility right back at them. Let the chaos they have allowed consume their cities until they finally admit they are in over their heads and come begging for help.