President Donald Trump said he has directed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem not to intervene in protests or riots in Democratic-led cities unless local officials formally request assistance, amid criticism of heavy-handed immigration enforcement tactics used by the federal government.
“I have directed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that under no circumstances will we participate in protests and/or riots in various mismanaged Democratic cities unless they ask us for help,” Trump wrote on The Truth Society on Saturday.
“However, we will defend very vigorously any and all federal buildings attacked by these highly paid lunatics, agitators and insurrectionists,” he added.
CNN has reached out to the White House and Department of Homeland Security for more details about Trump’s statement.
The announcement comes in the wake of the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis, which changed the national conversation about immigration enforcement and appeared to lead to a shift in tone from the White House in recent days.
Trump warned that he would “not spit in the faces of our officers” or attack law enforcement vehicles or damage federal property, promising “equal or worse consequences” for those who do so. Trump also said local and state governments have a responsibility to protect their own property as well as federal property, with the federal government as the back-up.
The president cited an incident in Oregon where he claimed demonstrators broke into a federal building, damaged property and harassed employees while local police failed to intervene. “We won’t let this happen again!” Trump wrote.
However, local officials in Eugene, Oregon, disputed the president’s characterization, saying police did respond to the incident.
The event at the federal building was declared a riot, and officers ordered people to leave the area after violations were reported at the entrance, the Eugene Police Department said in a statement Friday night.
“A number of protesters broke into the building and entered. Occupants included civilian personnel,” Eugene police said. “Eugene police were present to de-escalate the situation.”
Trump said federal aid would be provided quickly if requested, but states must use the word “please.”
“Remember, I said it in the strongest possible terms, be careful – ICE, Border Patrol, or, if necessary, our military, will be extremely powerful and tough in protecting our federal property,” Trump wrote.
Trump has also been threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, which gives the president extraordinary powers to send in the military to quell civil unrest.
The president’s comments come as demonstrations are expected throughout the weekend, with a nationwide strike scheduled for Friday to protest a federal immigration enforcement crackdown.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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