President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that he may invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy the U.S. military in Minnesota as unrest intensifies in Minneapolis following a second shooting in a week involving a federal officer during Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

In a social media post, Trump accused Minnesota’s political leadership of failing to maintain order and vowed federal intervention if state officials do not act.

“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.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, responded with a direct appeal for de-escalation, urging the president to lower the rhetoric and calling on residents to protest peacefully.

“I am making a direct appeal to the President: Let’s turn the temperature down. Stop this campaign of retribution. This is not who we are,” Walz posted on X. “To Minnesotans: I know this is scary. We can — we must — speak out loudly and urgently, but also peacefully. We cannot fan the flames of chaos.”

The confrontation intensified Wednesday night after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche accused Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of encouraging violence.

“Minnesota insurrection is a direct result of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence against law enforcement,” Blanche posted. “Walz and Frey — I’m focused on stopping YOU from your terrorism by whatever means necessary. This is not a threat. It’s a promise.”

The escalating exchange comes amid growing protests in Minneapolis tied to federal immigration enforcement activity and recent shootings involving ICE personnel, further heightening political and public tensions over the federal government’s role in local law enforcement matters.