WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump on Saturday said the federal government will not intervene in anti-immigration riots blue states unless local or state officials formally request assistance.
And he said they must ask nicely.
“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, in part, on Truth Social.
Trump emphasized that the federal government, will, however, “guard, and very powerfully so, any and all federal buildings that are being attacked by these highly paid lunatics, agitators, and insurrectionists.”
Trump also warned that assaults on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and U.S. Border Patrol agents, as well as damage to government property or vehicles, would result in severe consequences.
“Please be aware that I have instructed ICE and/or Border Patrol to be very forceful in this protection of federal government property,” Trump wrote.
“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. If there is, those people will suffer an equal, or more, consequence,” he added.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Marine One on South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The post came after an incident in Eugene, Oregon, where Trump said individuals broke into a federal building, caused significant damage, and intimidated federal employees while local police failed to intervene. He said those types of incidents would no longer be tolerated.
He also said the responsibility for protecting state and local property rests primarily with governors and mayors. He added that local and state governments are obligated to help safeguard federal assets within their jurisdictions.
“You must protect your own state and local property,” Trump wrote. “In addition, it is your obligation to also protect our federal property, buildings, parks, and everything else. We are there to protect federal property, only as a back up, in that it is local and state responsibility to do so.”
Trump said federal assistance would be deployed swiftly if requested, pointing to the Los Angeles riots at the end of former President Joe Biden’s term as an example of successful federal involvement. He said the city’s police chief later acknowledged that local authorities could not have handled the situation without federal support.
Trump said federal help would be provided when requested, adding that officials should explicitly ask for assistance, as well as ask kindly.
”To all complaining local governments, governors, and mayors, let us know when you are ready, and we will be there — but, before we do so, you must use the word, ‘PLEASE.'” he wrote.
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The president warned that federal law enforcement — and potentially the military — would act decisively to protect government property if deployed.
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