President Trump isn’t backing down from the radical left. The Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 active-duty soldiers to prepare for possible deployment to Minnesota after violent protesters repeatedly attacked federal immigration agents trying to do their jobs.
Trump is threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act for the first time since 1992. And he’s right to consider it. Democratic Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have allowed their city to descend into chaos rather than support federal law enforcement.
ICE Agents Under Attack While Doing Their Jobs
The situation escalated when ICE agents conducting immigration enforcement operations faced violent resistance. During one incident, an agent shot Renee Nicole Good. During another traffic stop days later, an agent shot a Venezuelan immigrant in the leg after the man fled and attacked the officer with a shovel and broom handle.
The Department of Homeland Security sent more than 2,000 federal officers to the Twin Cities for “Operation Metro Surge.” Why? Because Minnesota has become a magnet for illegal immigration and fraud. The state’s lax enforcement has created serious problems that local officials refuse to address.
Hundreds of demonstrators have taken to the streets daily.
Trump’s Warning: Restore Order or Face Consequences
President Trump posted a strong warning on Truth Social.
Trump wrote:
“If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State.”
The president is exactly right. These are professional agitators creating chaos. And Minnesota’s Democratic politicians are letting it happen.
The Insurrection Act is a legitimate tool. It’s been used before when local authorities failed to maintain order. George H.W. Bush used it during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Trump is well within his constitutional authority to use it now.
The difference is simple. Bush acted at California’s request. Trump would be acting because Minnesota Democrats refuse to do their jobs. They’re more interested in protecting their far-left political base than supporting law enforcement or keeping citizens safe.
Why Trump Is Right to Stand Firm
This is the federal government doing exactly what it’s supposed to do: enforce federal law.
Immigration enforcement is explicitly a federal responsibility under the Constitution. States don’t get to pick and choose which federal laws they’ll allow to be enforced. That’s called nullification, and we fought a Civil War over it.
Governor Walz and Mayor Frey aren’t innocent victims here. They’ve actively encouraged resistance to federal law enforcement. Walz called ICE’s presence an “occupation.” Frey said Minneapolis doesn’t “need” federal agents.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was right when he blamed Walz and Frey for “encouraging violence against law enforcement.” Their rhetoric gives cover to violent protesters who attack ICE agents.
The Justice Department is now investigating both Democratic leaders. That’s appropriate. Political leaders who obstruct federal law enforcement should face consequences.
Enter Jake Lang: The Controversial Provocateur
Into this tense situation stepped Jake Lang. He’s a 30-year-old far-right activist who Trump pardoned for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot. Lang organized what he called a “March Against Minnesota Fraud” in Minneapolis on Saturday.
Lang spent four years in federal prison awaiting trial on 11 charges. These included assaulting law enforcement officers with a baseball bat and civil disorder. He never went to trial because he kept delaying proceedings. Then Trump’s pardon wiped the charges away.
Since his release, Lang has positioned himself as a January 6 “political prisoner.” He raised nearly $600,000 through his GiveSendGo legal fund while in jail. He tried to organize a national militia from his prison cell. Now he’s running for U.S. Senate in Florida.
Lang’s Provocative Plan Backfires
What really drew the massive counter-protest wasn’t just Lang’s presence. It was his announced plan to burn a Quran on the steps of Minneapolis City Hall.
Lang posted on social media before the rally:
“Today at 1pm I will burn a Quran on the steps of Minneapolis City Hall. America is a CHRISTIAN COUNTRY; we will not allow Somali Daycare Pirates to overtake Minneapolis.”
He specifically targeted the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood for his “March Against Minnesota Fraud.” This neighborhood is home to one of America’s largest Somali Muslim communities. Local leaders warned that Lang’s goal was “to create chaos and cause violence in our community.”
The inflammatory threat worked exactly as you’d expect. Lang’s rally attracted only about 10 supporters. But hundreds of counter-protesters showed up. They weren’t there to debate immigration policy. They were there to stop what they saw as a hateful attack on their neighbors.
Community coalitions mobilized. Religious leaders wore orange vests. Community patrollers wore yellow vests. Law enforcement monitored the situation. The counter-protesters vastly outnumbered Lang’s group and chased them away before Lang could burn anything.
Video shows Lang was pulled into the crowd, where he claims he was stabbed during the ensuing assault, though wearing a plate carrier that blocked the blade.
Minneapolis police say they’re aware of his social media claims, but no police report has been filed. Videos show Lang soaking wet from water balloons, with blood on his head, retreating to a hotel. He later set up another GiveSendGo fundraiser for his “hospital and security expenses.”
Why Lang Is Controversial Even Among J6 Defendants
Here’s where things get interesting for conservatives who support the January 6 defendants. Many in that community are deeply skeptical of Jake Lang.
According to reporting, Lang has been accused by other January 6 defendants of being more interested in self-promotion than actually helping imprisoned protesters. He raised millions through multiple GiveSendGo campaigns but some question where all that money went.
One particularly troubling allegation involves Bart Shively. Shively was a January 6 defendant and former Marine who died of cancer after being released from prison. According to reports, Lang allegedly pressured the dying veteran to sign over power of attorney, apparently trying to gain control of Shively’s GiveSendGo fundraising and estate.
Lang founded a group called “Protect White Americans” after his release. He appeared shirtless on Enrique Tarrio’s podcast to “show his whiteness.”
In June 2024, while still in prison, Lang attempted to create a nationwide militia from his jail cell. According to reporting by Rolling Stone and Media Matters, he called it the North American Patriot and Liberty Militia, or NAPALM. The group was later renamed the America First Constitutional Militia.
The militia claimed chapters in all 50 states with over 20,000 members. But the launch was plagued by problems. Several people listed as leaders said they had nothing to do with it. The Instagram account got canceled.
These provocative actions have embarrassed many conservatives who believe the January 6 defendants deserve fair treatment but don’t want to be associated with inflammatory racial rhetoric. Even conservative commentator Glenn Beck, who supports pardons for January 6 participants, drew a line. Beck argued that people who assaulted police officers should still face consequences. Lang was charged with exactly that offense.
What Happens Next: Order Will Be Restored
The 1,500 troops on standby are from the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska. They’re professionals who will restore order if called upon. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said, “The Department of War is always prepared to execute the orders of the Commander-in-Chief if called upon.”
Minnesota has mobilized its National Guard, but it’s unclear if Walz will actually use them to protect federal agents or if he’ll continue playing politics.
Minneapolis Mayor Frey claimed on NBC’s Meet the Press that “crime is dramatically down” and they don’t need federal agents. But if crime is so low, why is Minneapolis known for fraud schemes that have stolen millions in federal funds? Why has it become a magnet for illegal immigration?
Left-wing legal experts are already promising to challenge Trump in court if he invokes the Insurrection Act. Joseph Nunn from the Brennan Center called it a potential “flagrant abuse.” The Brennan Center is a liberal advocacy group, so consider the source.
The reality is simpler. Trump has constitutional authority to enforce federal law. He has the authority to protect federal agents under attack. And he has the authority to restore order when local officials refuse to do so.
The Real Issue: Can Federal Law Be Enforced?
This situation isn’t complicated. The federal government has a job to do. ICE agents are trying to remove illegal immigrants who have no right to be here. Democratic politicians are obstructing them. Protesters are attacking them.
Federal immigration law must be enforced everywhere in America.
The battle in Minneapolis is about whether America will remain a nation of laws or descend into chaos where Democratic politicians can nullify any federal law they don’t like. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
