Donald Trump would not be the first president to invoke the Insurrection Act, as he has now threatened to do as a way to send U.S. military forces to Minnesota. Gen. Brig. Michael McDaniel, professor emeritus at Cooley Law School, says Trump does have the authority to invoke the insurrection…
ATLANTA — Donald Trump would not be the first president to invoke the Insurrection Act, as he has threatened, so that he can send U.S. military forces to Minnesota.
President Donald Trump answers questions after signing a bill that returns whole milk to school cafeterias across the country, in the Oval Office of the White House, Jan. 14, in Washington.
Federal immigration officers confront protesters outside Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)
WH press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the Insurrection Act is “a tool at the president's disposal.” She says Trump is also sending a message to Democrats who are using their platforms to encourage violence against federal officers.
FILE - In this March 7, 1965 file photo, clouds of tear gas fill the air as state troopers, ordered by Gov. George Wallace, break up a demonstration march in Selma, Ala., on what became known as "Bloody Sunday." The incident is widely credited for galvanizing the nation's leaders and ultimately yielded passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. (AP Photo/File)
A protester yells at a Portland police officer outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
Jenny Kane
An American flag burns outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
Jenny Kane
Protesters gather during a demonstration calling for an end to federal immigration enforcement operations and U.S. attacks on Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jill Connelly)
Jill Connelly
A protester gestures during a demonstration calling for an end to federal immigration enforcement operations and U.S. attacks on Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jill Connelly)
Jill Connelly
People gather during a protest on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 in downtown Durham, NC. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)
Allen Breed
Demonstrators protest outside the White House in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Jose Luis Magana
Demonstrators protest outside the White House in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Jose Luis Magana
Demonstrators protest outside the White House in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Jose Luis Magana
Demonstrators protest outside the White House in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Jose Luis Magana
Demonstrators march outside the White House in Washington, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Jose Luis Magana
Protesters gather during a rally for Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer earlier in the week, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)
John Locher
People line Dodge Street during a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Omaha, Neb., on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Chris Machian
Protesters gather during a demonstration calling for an end to federal immigration enforcement operations and U.S. attacks on Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jill Connelly)
Jill Connelly
People gather around a makeshift memorial honoring Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer, near the site of the shooting in Minneapolis, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
John Locher
People march to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in honor of victims of ICE shootings Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
Jenny Kane
A sign for Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis earlier in the week, is seen on the ground alongside candles as people gather outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
Jenny Kane
Minnesota State Patrol officers are seen during a protest and noise demonstration calling for an end to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)
John Locher
Two people sit in the street with their hands up in front of Minnesota State Patrol during a protest and noise demonstration calling for an end to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)
John Locher
Minnesota State Patrol officers are seen during a protest and noise demonstration calling for an end to federal immigration enforcement operations in the city, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)
John Locher
A protester holds up a sign outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
Adam Gray
Rep. Kelly Morrison D-Minn., center, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., second from the right, and Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., far right, at the Bishop Whipple Federal Building, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
President Donald Trump answers questions after signing a bill that returns whole milk to school cafeterias across the country, in the Oval Office of the White House, Jan. 14, in Washington.
FILE - In this March 7, 1965 file photo, clouds of tear gas fill the air as state troopers, ordered by Gov. George Wallace, break up a demonstration march in Selma, Ala., on what became known as "Bloody Sunday." The incident is widely credited for galvanizing the nation's leaders and ultimately yielded passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. (AP Photo/File)
Federal immigration officers confront protesters outside Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)
