President Donald Trump said Saturday evening he has directed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem not to deploy federal help to cities facing protests or riots unless local leaders explicitly request assistance, while ordering a tougher posture to protect federal property.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said federal authorities will “very powerfully” guard federal buildings and instructed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol to be “very forceful” in protecting federal government property. He warned against assaults on officers and damage to federal vehicles, saying violators would face “equal, or more, consequence.”
Trump also told state and local governments they are responsible for protecting their own property and have an obligation to protect federal sites in their jurisdictions, describing federal involvement as a backup unless help is requested.
As an example, Trump cited an incident he said occurred “last night” in Eugene, where he said criminals broke into a federal building, caused major damage, and harassed employees. He criticized local police for not stopping it.
Trump said that federal forces would respond “immediately” if local governments asked for assistance, and he referenced what he called the Los Angeles riots near the end of the Biden administration, claiming federal help was critical.
Trump said that the order was part of his “law and order” plan and that he was elected to keep the border safe, the country safe, and the public safe.
The warning followed an incident Trump cited involving the federal building in Eugene, Oregon. In his statement, Trump said the building was breached and criticized local police for not stopping it
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