Trump Warns Of Using Insurrection Act To End Minneapolis Protests. What The 1807 Law Means

Last Updated:January 15, 2026, 20:24 IST

The law, which dates back to the early 19th century, gives the president authority to deploy military forces domestically to restore order.

US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)

US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned he could invoke a centuries-old law that allows the deployment of the military on US soil, as protests continue in Minnesota following the fatal shooting of a woman by a federal agent last week.

“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," Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social.

The president’s comments come after unrest in Minneapolis, where protests erupted following a separate incident on Wednesday in which an immigration agent shot and injured a man.

This is not the first time Trump has threatened to use the Insurrection Act. Last year, he openly considered invoking the law after a federal judge in Oregon temporarily blocked a Guard deployment in Portland, while another judge in Illinois allowed a similar action in Chicago to proceed.

What Is The Insurrection Act?

The Insurrection Act of 1807 is a US federal law that allows the president to send active-duty military personnel into states to suppress civil disorder, rebellion, or insurrection. It essentially gives the federal government the power to step in if local authorities cannot maintain order or enforce the law.

While rarely used, the Act has historically been invoked during civil rights unrest or rebellions. It is considered an exception to the Posse Comitatus Act, which normally prohibits federal troops from engaging in domestic law enforcement.

Under the Insurrection Act, the president can order military forces to enforce federal law, support local authorities, or suppress uprisings against the government.

Although often called the “Insurrection Act of 1807," the law is actually a combination of statutes passed between 1792 and 1871. Today, it is codified in Sections 251 through 255 of Title 10 of the United States Code. Experts warn that, while the law may be necessary in rare circumstances, its broad wording makes it vulnerable to misuse.

(With inputs from agencies)

News world Trump Warns Of Using Insurrection Act To End Minneapolis Protests. What The 1807 Law Means

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