• Trump instructs DHS Secretary Kristi Noem not to intervene in Democrat city protests “unless, and until, they ask us for help”
• President warns ICE and Border Patrol will be “very forceful” in protecting federal property after Eugene building breach
• Local governments must use word “PLEASE” before receiving federal assistance with protests and riots

WASHINGTON, DC (TDR) — President Donald Trump on Saturday issued a nearly 500-word directive on Truth Social instructing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to withdraw federal support from Democratic-run cities experiencing protests unless they explicitly request help.

“I have instructed Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, that under no circumstances are we going to participate in various poorly run Democrat Cities with regard to their Protests and/or Riots unless, and until, they ask us for help,” Trump wrote.

The extraordinary missive came after protesters in Eugene, Oregon breached the federal building Friday evening, prompting police to declare a riot and deploy tear gas against demonstrators protesting ICE operations.

Federal Buildings Exception and Force Authorization

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While Trump said his administration would not intervene in city-level unrest, he carved out an exception for federal property and authorized aggressive tactics to protect government buildings.

“We will, however, guard, and very powerfully so, any and all Federal Buildings that are being attacked by these highly paid Lunatics, Agitators, and Insurrectionists,” Trump declared. “Please be aware that I have instructed ICE and/or Border Patrol to be very forceful in this protection of Federal Government Property.”

The president then listed specific prohibited behaviors and promised retaliation.

“There will be no spitting in the faces of our Officers, there will be no punching or kicking the headlights of our cars, and there will be no rock or brick throwing at our vehicles, or at our Patriot Warriors,” he wrote. “If there is, those people will suffer an equal, or more, consequence.”

Eugene Protests Cited as Trigger

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Trump specifically referenced Friday night’s chaos in Eugene, where protesters as part of a nationwide “general strike” against ICE operations breached the federal building while civilian staff were inside.

“Last night in Eugene, Oregon, these criminals broke into a Federal Building, and did great damage, also scaring and harassing the hardworking employees,” Trump wrote. “Local Police did nothing in order to stop it. We will not let that happen anymore!”

According to local reporting from KLCC and OPB, federal officers deployed tear gas, pepper balls and flash-bangs over several hours Tuesday and Friday, detaining at least nine protesters. Some protesters banged on windows, shined green laser pointers at officers on the roof, and sprayed graffiti on walls.

Anna Lardner, one protester detained and released, showed visible bruises and accused DHS of targeting her for involvement in a lawsuit against Trump administration noise rules.

“They know that people are mad,” Lardner said. “They know people are showing up to demonstrate, and they want to scare those people so they go home.”

By Friday evening, Eugene Police Department declared the protest a riot after “some protesters breached the building and went inside” while staff were present.

‘PLEASE’ Requirement for Federal Assistance

In a particularly striking passage, Trump made clear that Democratic mayors and governors seeking federal help must use specific language.

“Therefore, to all complaining Local Governments, Governors, and Mayors, let us know when you are ready, and we will be there — But, before we do so, you must use the word, ‘PLEASE,'” Trump wrote.

He then escalated his warnings about federal force.

“Remember that I stated, in the strongest of language, to BEWARE — ICE, Border Patrol or, if necessary, our Military, will be extremely powerful and tough in the protection of our Federal Property,” Trump continued. “We will not allow our Courthouses, Federal Buildings, or anything else under our protection, to be damaged in any way, shape, or form.”

Context: Nationwide Protests Against ICE

The directive comes amid nationwide demonstrations protesting ICE enforcement operations, particularly in Minneapolis where federal agents killed two U.S. citizens — Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, both 37 — earlier this month.

Friday’s protests were part of a coordinated “general strike” and “Day of Action” called by activists across the country. In Portland, hundreds of high school students walked out of classes to protest the immigration crackdown. In Eugene, armed counter-protesters showed up with “I ❤️ ICE” signs, prompting confrontations.

“This is not a protest against Democrats or Republicans,” said Vivian Kelly, a disabled nurse who participated in the Eugene demonstration. “This is a protest against right and wrong.”

Counter-protester Tyler Alford, who arrived armed, shouted that “civil war” was coming and said he brought his gun “to protect myself from getting beaten up by protesters.”

Noem Under Pressure from Multiple Fronts

Trump’s directive came one day after he defended Noem on Truth Social, claiming critics were targeting her “because she is a woman, and has done a really GREAT JOB!”

Noem faces calls for resignation from both Democrats and Republicans, including Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and other House Democrats are threatening impeachment if she’s not “fired immediately.”

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) wrote directly to Trump: “Americans have died. She is betraying DHS’s core mission and trashing your border security legacy. DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary.”

Noem has drawn particular criticism for her immediate statements after Pretti’s killing, claiming he was planning to “inflict maximum damage” on law enforcement and was “brandishing a gun” — claims that contradicted eyewitness videos showing Pretti filming with his phone while agents wrestled him to the ground.

An anonymous Noem associate told Axios that the secretary privately said: “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done at the direction of the president and Stephen Miller.”

Minnesota Officials Respond

Minnesota officials have pushed back forcefully against federal immigration operations in their state.

Governor Tim Walz said Wednesday that ICE’s presence was no longer “a matter of immigration enforcement” but “a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government.”

“Let me say once again to Donald Trump and Kristi Noem — end this occupation,” Walz said.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey spokesperson said Thursday: “Minnesota needs ICE to leave, not an escalation that brings additional federal troops beyond the 3,000 already here. The mayor’s priority is keeping local law enforcement focused on public safety, not diverted by federal overreach.”

Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act against Minnesota if state officials don’t “stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E.”

Los Angeles Precedent Cited

Trump concluded his Saturday directive by referencing his administration’s handling of Los Angeles unrest.

“If Local Governments are unable to handle the Insurrectionists, Agitators, and Anarchists, we will immediately go to the location where such help is requested, and take care of the situation very easily and methodically, just as we did the Los Angeles Riots one year ago,” he wrote.

He signed off: “I was elected on a Policy of Border Control (which has now been perfected!), National Security, and LAW AND ORDER — That’s what America wants, and that’s what America is getting!”

Armed Counter-Protesters Emerge

The Eugene protests also saw the emergence of armed counter-protesters carrying weapons and “I ❤️ ICE” signs, creating additional tension. Tyler Alford told KLCC he came to “show our Second Amendment right” and feared getting “beaten up by protesters.”

Anti-ICE protester Dharmika Henshel attempted to de-escalate by calmly engaging Alford in conversation about his views, telling reporters she fears constitutional rights are being eroded.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) supported Trump’s stance, telling reporters “Minnesota is out of control” and that “local and state leaders seem to be encouraging violence and all of this madness, and the president’s frustrated about it and so are we.”

Can a president legally condition federal emergency assistance on local officials using specific words like “PLEASE,” and does this represent an unprecedented politicization of disaster response?

Sources

This report was compiled using information from Raw Story’s coverage of Trump’s Truth Social directive, KLCC’s reporting on Eugene federal building protests, OPB’s coverage of the Eugene protests and Eugene riot declaration, KGW reporting on the federal building breach, KVAL coverage of riot declaration, Central Oregon Daily reporting on federal agent clashes, The Hill’s coverage of Trump defending Noem, Fox News reporting on Noem resignation calls, Fox News coverage of Trump’s Friday defense, NBC News on Trump’s Insurrection Act threats, HuffPost on Noem’s misleading Pretti statements, and Mediaite’s coverage of Noem’s private comments

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