President Donald Trump said Saturday that federal authorities will not intervene in protests or unrest in Democratic-led cities unless local officials formally request assistance, while vowing aggressive protection of federal property as nationwide demonstrations intensify following controversial immigration enforcement actions.
"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 statement comes as protests continue across multiple U.S. cities after a sweeping federal immigration crackdown, including Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis. The policy shift follows the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, which have become flashpoints in the national debate over federal enforcement tactics and civil unrest.
Trump said local and state governments bear primary responsibility for protecting public and federal property, describing the federal government as a "back up" unless assistance is explicitly requested. "We are there to protect Federal Property, only as a back up, in that it is Local and State Responsibility to do so," he wrote.
The president also issued a blunt warning to protesters, saying, "There will be no spitting in the faces of our Officers, there will be no punching or kicking the headlights of our cars, and there will be no rock or brick throwing at our vehicles, or at our Patriot Warriors." He promised "equal, or more, consequence" for attacks on law enforcement or federal facilities.
Trump cited unrest at a federal building in Eugene, Oregon, claiming demonstrators broke inside, damaged property, and harassed employees while local police "did nothing." "We will not let that happen anymore!" he wrote. Local officials disputed that characterization.
In a statement, the Eugene Police Department said activity at the federal building was declared a riot after protesters breached entry points. "Some protesters breached the building and went inside. Occupants include civilian staff," Eugene police said. "Eugene Police's presence is an attempt to keep things de-escalated."
Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner later said officers attempted to create a buffer between protesters and the building until additional federal resources arrived, after which local police withdrew. He said police intervened with the goal of preventing escalation, not standing aside.
Trump said federal assistance would be provided "very easily and methodically" if requested, emphasizing that states must ask directly. "Remember that I stated, in the strongest of language, to BEWARE - ICE, Border Patrol or, if necessary, our Military, will be extremely powerful and tough in the protection of our Federal Property," he wrote.
The president's comments also revive the prospect of invoking the Insurrection Act, which allows deployment of the military for domestic law enforcement. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said earlier this month, "He certainly has the constitutional authority to utilize that," adding that the option remains under discussion.
Trump previously deployed National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles during protests in June, officially assigning them to protect federal property. A federal judge later ruled that some actions exceeded those limits, citing the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which restricts the use of military forces in civilian law enforcement absent congressional approval or an invocation of the Insurrection Act.
