Trump backs down from Insurrection Act threat in Minneapolis

Published January 16, 2026 4:28pm ET



President Donald Trump relented Friday on his threat to use the Insurrection Act in response to unrest in Minneapolis.

“I don’t think there’s any reason right now to use it, but if I needed it, I’d use it,” Trump said about the Insurrection Act while speaking to a gaggle of reporters as he left for Florida. “It’s very powerful.”

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