The administration of Donald Trump is preparing roughly 1,500 active-duty troops for potential deployment to Minnesota as tensions continue to rise over federal immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities. A senior U.S. official confirmed the development, noting that the U.S. Army’s 11th Airborne Division, based in Alaska, has received “prepare to deploy” orders.
The elite division, known for its specialization in cold-weather and mountain warfare, would be a logical choice for any winter or urban operation in the Upper Midwest. The Pentagon’s readiness posture was first reported by The Washington Post, and later confirmed in a statement to Fox News by Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell, who said the Department of Defense “is always prepared to execute the orders of the Commander-in-Chief if called upon.”
The move follows escalating rhetoric from Trump, who earlier in the week threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act if Minnesota officials failed to rein in protests and harassment targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused “corrupt politicians” of allowing what he described as professional agitators to obstruct lawful federal operations.
Minnesota—particularly Minneapolis and St. Paul—is already hosting approximately 3,000 federal agents following a massive fraud scandal that rocked the state late last year. Since then, protests have intensified, with demonstrators reportedly following and confronting agents during enforcement actions. The situation reached a flash point earlier this month with the death of activist Renee Nicole Good during a confrontation involving federal agents, further inflaming public anger and political divisions.
Despite his earlier threat, Trump appeared to soften his tone on Friday, telling reporters he did not currently see a need to invoke the Insurrection Act. He noted that the law has been used repeatedly in U.S. history, including during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and emphasized that it remains a powerful option if conditions deteriorate. Importantly, officials confirmed that the readiness order for the 11th Airborne Division was issued before Trump’s more measured remarks.
Even within Trump’s own party, the idea of deploying active-duty troops domestically has drawn caution. John Thune, the Senate Majority Leader, downplayed the likelihood of invoking the Insurrection Act, expressing hope that cooperation between federal agencies and local law enforcement would be sufficient to restore calm.
For now, the troops remain on standby, underscoring how volatile the situation in Minnesota has become. While no deployment order has been issued, the Pentagon’s preparations signal that the federal government is keeping military options firmly on the table as protests, politics, and public safety continue to collide in the state.