President Trump threatens Insurrection Act amid escalating violence

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Unlike regular federal deployment, this Insurrection Act allows troops to carry out law enforcement functions.

It gives U.S. troops the power to search, arrest and detain U.S. citizens.

“The Insurrection Act is a tool at the president’s disposal,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt at the briefing Thursday.

She blamed democratic leaders, specifically Governors Tim Walz for the escalating violence in Minnesota.

“It’s because these Democrats are deranged in their hatred for President Trump, and they are holding their state and local law enforcement hostage as a result,” said Leavitt.

Governor Tim Walz addressed the situation Wednesday, urging Minnesotans protest peacefully, and to film ICE encounters.

“If you see these ICE agents in your neighborhood take out that phone and hit record,” said Walz. “Help us create a database of the atrocities against Minnesotans, not just to establish a record for posterity, but to bank evidence for future prosecution.”

The White House maintains ICE has a clear objective, “to remove violent criminals from the streets of Minnesota.”

Innocent Americans are also getting caught in the dragnet. According to ProPublica, 170 legal US citizens were arrested and detained in ICE facilities.

The last time the insurrection act was used was by President George HW Bush during the 1992 LA riots.