Early Saturday, Donald Trump spoke out after another deadly federal operation in Minnesota, directly blaming state leaders.
Posting on Truth Social, the president demanded that Immigration and Customs Enforcement be allowed to operate without limits. He warned that Minnesota would face worse scenes if undocumented immigrants were not removed.
“Let our ICE patriots do their job! 12,000 illegal alien criminals, many of them violent, have been arrested and taken out of Minnesota,” Trump wrote. He added that those still in the state would cause “something far worse than you are witnessing today.”
His comments followed a fatal shooting in Minneapolis involving a US Border Patrol officer during a targeted operation. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara later identified the man who was killed as a 37-year-old white American citizen. Officials said he had no criminal record beyond traffic violations and was believed to be a lawful gun owner with a permit to carry.
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As details emerged, Trump shifted blame to local leadership. He accused city and state officials of failing to protect federal officers and claimed they created dangerous conditions on the ground.
Trump said federal agents were sent to Minnesota because of what he described as “massive Monetary Fraud, with Billions of Dollars missing” tied to Democratic border policies.
Senior members of the administration quickly backed him up.
Vice President JD Vance said cooperation from local police could have prevented the situation from escalating. “When I visited Minnesota, what the ICE agents wanted more than anything was to work with local law enforcement so that situations on the ground didn’t get out of hand,” Vance said. He added that city leaders “has so far refused to answer those requests.”
When I visited Minnesota, what the ICE agents wanted more than anything was to work with local law enforcement so that situations on the ground didn’t get out of hand.
The local leadership in Minnesota has so far refused to answer those requests. pic.twitter.com/XUGIhXxUv7
— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 24, 2026
Attorney General Pam Bondi also pointed the finger at state officials. Speaking on Fox News, she said the Justice Department sent Governor Tim Walz “a very strong letter” demanding that he “better support President Trump.”
Bondi claimed Minneapolis’s sanctuary status made federal work more dangerous and blamed local policies for the deadly outcome.
Meanwhile, Trump continued pressing his case online. He shared an image of a handgun he said belonged to the man who was shot. “This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about?” Trump wrote.
He went on to challenge why local police were not present during the operation and suggested officers were told to stand down. Trump then broadened his attack, accusing Minnesota leaders of covering up stolen public funds and stirring unrest with their statements.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
