Trump orders DHS to stand down at Democrat-city protests unless asked for help

President Trump posted on Truth Social on February 1 that he had instructed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem not to intervene in protests in Democrat-led cities unless local authorities formally request federal assistance. The order followed weeks of protests in Minneapolis sparked by the killing of two U.S. citizens — Renee Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24 — by federal agents during ICE operations. Trump added that ICE and Border Patrol would remain forceful in protecting federal buildings from attack.