Trump and Walz Both Make Moves on Chaos in Minneapolis, As MN National Guard Post Raises Eyebrows

The piece examines recent unrest in Minneapolis, the targeting of people suspected of being ICE, the Department of Justice probing Minnesota officials, and the reactions to National Guard statements and standby orders from both Governor Tim Walz and President Donald Trump.

Minneapolis has seen unrest spill into everyday life, with protesters confronting people they suspect of being ICE. That escalation included a “response team” confronting five software workers at a deli and grilling them about their beliefs while they tried to eat. City emails showing officials monitored ICE activity have added fuel to an ongoing Department of Justice inquiry into Minnesota leadership, including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

Gov. Walz has the Minnesota National Guard prepared but has not ordered a deployment, while President Donald Trump reportedly has active-duty forces listed as another option. The idea of the military being put on standby is already drawing fire from political opponents, and activists are primed to protest any stepped-up federal presence. The tension highlights how local unrest can quickly become a federal issue when law enforcement and immigration operations collide.

About 1,500 active-duty soldiers are on standby for possible deployment to Minneapolis, a U.S. defense official told CBS News Saturday.

ABC News was first to report that the soldiers were on standby. 

The soldiers — from the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska — are one option the military is planning for if President Trump decides to use active-duty military personnel, the official said.

The Minnesota National Guard posted a public message explaining how their members would be identifiable if activated, and that message set off a new round of commentary. Many people reacted to the Guard’s outline about reflective vests and pixelated faces, seeing it as evidence of the odd dynamics in play between protesters and uniformed personnel. For National Guard members who live and work in the state, the post was a practical effort to prevent misidentification and physical confrontations.

Members of the Minnesota National Guard are on standby, ready to assist local law enforcement and public safety agencies. If our members are activated, they will be wearing reflective vests, as pictured here, to help distinguish them from other agencies in similar uniforms.

These Minnesota Guardsmen live, work, and serve in our state, and are focused on protecting life, preserving property, and ensuring Minnesotans can safely exercise their First Amendment rights.

The Guard’s message practically reads: we might look like ICE to people who cannot tell uniforms apart, so do not attack us. That blunt explanation reveals how serious the risk of mistaken identity has become in confrontations around immigration enforcement. It also raises the question of why pixelation and protective measures are necessary for troops who are trying to be transparent while remaining safe.

Another awkward detail people flagged was the pixelation of soldiers’ faces in official posts while officials have criticized ICE agents for masking. That inconsistency struck many as odd and fed social media chatter about doxxing and safety. When uniformed personnel need face protection or obscuring, it underscores real danger to those involved on the ground.

Some commenters suggested simple, pragmatic responses, such as ICE or federal agents wearing reflective vests to avoid confrontation, though others pushed back and said the real issue is to stop radical violence altogether. Plenty of voices urged Minnesota leaders to stop coddling militants and allow federal law enforcement to carry out enforcement without obstruction. The political back-and-forth over who should lead the response has become as heated as the protests themselves.

Beyond uniforms and optics, the DOJ probe into how Minnesota officials handled ICE enforcement adds a legal and political layer to the unrest. That investigation targets the conduct of state and city leaders during enforcement actions and will likely shape the debate about federal intervention. With both the Governor and the President weighing options, the situation in Minneapolis remains a flashpoint for larger questions about law, order, and who gets to enforce it.

Public safety officials say protective steps are meant to reduce confusion and avoid violence, but critics argue those steps also highlight failures of local leadership to keep order. As national attention focuses on the city, the decisions by Walz and Trump about deploying forces will be scrutinized by courts, federal investigators, and voters. The fallout from those choices could influence how similar situations are handled elsewhere in the country.