President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to limit federal involvement in local protests and riots unless state or local governments formally request assistance. At the same time, he reaffirmed a strong federal commitment to defending federal property and personnel against attacks.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he instructed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that federal agencies should not intervene in local disturbances by default. “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,” he wrote.
The statement signals a shift toward emphasizing local and state responsibility for managing public order within their jurisdictions. Trump stressed that governors and mayors are primarily accountable for protecting state and local property and ensuring public safety during protests or unrest. “You must protect your own State and Local Property. In addition, it is your obligation to also protect our Federal Property, Buildings, Parks, and everything else,” he said. He added that federal forces are intended to serve as a backup rather than a first response.
While limiting federal involvement in local matters, Trump made clear that attacks on federal buildings or personnel would prompt a forceful response. “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,” he stated. This distinction underscores a dual approach: restraint in local policing unless requested, paired with a firm stance on federal property protection.
Trump also issued a warning regarding the treatment of law enforcement officers during protests. “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. If there is, those people will suffer an equal, or more, consequence,” he said. The remarks reflect his broader law-and-order messaging and his view that violence or harassment against officers should be met with strong penalties.
To illustrate his concerns, Trump cited a recent incident in Eugene, Oregon, where he said a federal building was damaged and federal employees were harassed while local police did not intervene. “Last night in Eugene, Oregon, these criminals broke into a Federal Building, and did great damage, also scaring and harassing the hardworking employees. Local Police did nothing in order to stop it. We will not let that happen anymore!” he wrote.
Trump also referenced federal involvement during unrest in Los Angeles the previous year, arguing that federal assistance can be effective when local authorities request it. “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,” he said, noting that local officials had credited federal support at the time.
