Trump Tells Walz, Frey It’s Time to Cooperate With Feds, Stop Stoking Flames of Division, Chaos, Violence

I’ll outline the situation, report the president’s public demands, include his full quoted statement, note local reactions and calls for cooperation, and highlight the ongoing push for congressional action to end sanctuary cities.

President Trump publicly urged Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to stop resisting federal immigration enforcement and to work directly with the federal government. He framed sanctuary policies as a primary source of violence and instability and pressed Congress to act. The exchange follows a contentious local reaction to the death of Alex Pretti and an ongoing federal enforcement operation in the region. This dispute sits at the intersection of public safety, immigration policy, and political theater.

The president posted his appeal to his social platform and labeled sanctuary policies the “root cause of all these problems.” He asked state and local leaders to hand over criminal noncitizens who are incarcerated or wanted to federal authorities for deportation. Trump emphasized that cooperation would make cities safer for law-abiding citizens while removing criminal elements who have broken federal law. His demand is both a policy prescription and a political challenge to Democrat officeholders.

Local officials Walz and Frey held a press briefing that blamed federal immigration agents for the circumstances surrounding Alex Pretti’s death, a claim that sparked sharp disagreement. The president described their remarks as stoking division and called a federal enforcement presence “Operation Metro Surge” an occupation, a characterization opposed by the administration. The back-and-forth highlights how a single incident can rapidly escalate into a national debate over jurisdiction and responsibility. Residents and business leaders in Minnesota are caught in the middle of heated rhetoric from both sides.

In his post, the president laid out specific expectations for immediate cooperation from state and local officials and asked Congress to outlaw sanctuary jurisdictions. He stated that local law enforcement should turn over illegal aliens arrested by local police and assist federal agents in detaining those wanted for crimes. Trump framed these steps as common sense measures that would reduce crime and restore safety in communities. He also noted that some Democrat-run cities have already partnered with federal authorities, which he cited as proof the approach works.

That is why I am hereby calling on Governor Walz, Mayor Frey, and EVERY Democrat Governor and Mayor in the United States of America to formally cooperate with the Trump Administration to enforce our Nation’s Laws, rather than resist and stoke the flames of Division, Chaos, and Violence:

1. Governor Walz and Mayor Frey should turn over all Criminal Illegal Aliens that are currently incarcerated in their State Prisons and Jails to Federal Authorities, along with all Illegal Criminals with an active warrant or known Criminal History, for Immediate Deportation.
2. State and Local Law Enforcement must agree to turn over all Illegal Aliens arrested by Local Police.
3. Local Police must assist Federal Law Enforcement in apprehending and detaining Illegal Aliens who are wanted for Crimes.
4. Democrat Politicians must partner with the Federal Government to protect American Citizens in the rapid removal of all Criminal Illegal Aliens in our Country. Some Democrats, in places like Memphis, Tennessee, or Washington, D.C., have done so, resulting in safer streets for ALL.

In addition, I am hereby calling on the United States Congress to immediately pass Legislation to END Sanctuary Cities, which is the root cause of all of these problems. American Cities should be Safe Sanctuaries for Law Abiding American Citizens ONLY, not Illegal Alien Criminals who broke our Nation’s Laws.

All of these requests are rooted in COMMON SENSE, and will provide the best possible circumstances to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! The Trump Administration is standing by, and waiting for ANY Democrat to do the right thing, and work with us on these important matters of MAKING AMERICA SAFE like it is in all sections of our Country where we are, together with Local Leadership, participating and involved.

DONALD J. TRUMP

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Many expect Walz and Frey to resist cooperating with the administration, making a quick turnaround unlikely despite the president’s public pressure. Still, an open letter from 60 Minnesota CEOs urged state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions, signaling business community frustration with the standoff. That appeal underscores the economic and social costs when public safety and political conflict collide. Employers worry about churn, public image, and the safety of employees and customers.

The president called on Congress to act immediately to end sanctuary city policies through legislation, elevating the debate from municipal ordinances to federal law. He argued that statutory change would remove ambiguity and force jurisdictions to comply with national enforcement priorities. Supporters say nationwide rules would level the playing field and restore order; critics warn of legal, civil rights, and local governance implications. Whatever the outcome, the dispute will likely shape campaign arguments and legislative priorities in the months ahead.

On the ground, federal law enforcement activity in Minneapolis and surrounding areas continues to draw attention and protest from local activists and elected Democrats who frame federal involvement as heavy-handed. The administration counters that targeted enforcement is necessary to remove dangerous individuals and protect communities. That tension between local autonomy and federal authority has long fueled clashes over immigration enforcement. As both sides double down, residents are left weighing competing claims about safety, liberty, and who gets to decide public policy.

The political stakes are clear: Republicans can point to the call for law-and-order cooperation as a concrete proposal to tackle crime tied to illegal immigration, while Democrats maintain their emphasis on local control and civil liberties. The White House is signaling readiness to partner where local leaders agree, and to push Congress for nationwide change where cooperation fails. Expect the issue to remain a focal point in national conversations about immigration, federalism, and public safety for the foreseeable future.