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Trump: Need help with protesters? Say "please!"
President Donald Trump put out a lengthy statement on Saturday afternoon, stating "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." The president added that if you ask for help, you must say "please."
As protests ramped up Friday and continued in some cities through the weekend, President Donald Trump issued new directives for federal agents on social media.
He said he’s instructed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to not intervene in Democratic-led cities unless help is formally requested.
ICE protests
The backstory:
Protesters across the U.S. shut down schools and stores Friday during a nationwide strike to oppose the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
The demonstrations came after federal officers fatally shot two people in the city: Renee Good on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24.
Protesters carry signs and flags as they march against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis on Jan. 31, 2026. It is the second general strike in two weeks as the city protests ICE operations and the killing of Renee Good and Alex …
What they're saying:
Trump posted on social media Saturday afternoon that federal agents won’t be assisting Democratic-run cities with ongoing anti-immigration protests unless help is requested.
"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," he wrote.
He added that he has instructed federal agents to be "very forceful" in the protection of federal property, citing a demonstration outside of a government building in Eugene, Oregon, Friday night as basis for his instructions to "powerfully" and "forcefully" protect government property.
For context:
The Eugene Police Department declared Friday night that the demonstration outside the federal building was a riot, and said some protesters "breached" the building and went inside.
The statement said the local police presence was to "keep things de-escalated."
Dig deeper:
"Please be aware that I have instructed ICE and/or Border Patrol to be very forceful in this protection of Federal Government Property," the president continued Saturday in the aftermath. "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."
It is unclear if the phrase "equal, or more, consequence" refers to criminal charges.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from a Truth Social post by President Donald Trump, and statements from the Eugene Police Department. Background information was taken from previous FOX Television Station reportings and FOX 9 Minneapolis. This story was reported from Detroit.