The Trump administration is positioning about 1,500 active-duty soldiers for possible deployment to Minnesota, the Washington Post reports. President Trump has publicly threatened to send troops there under the Insurrection Act if the state's Democratic officials don't stop demonstrations in Minneapolis opposing the actions of federal immigration agents. The decision wasn't announced, but the White House said the Defense Department of War should be ready for "any decision the President may or may not make." Defense officials called the Pentagon's order "prudent planning."
The order applies to soldiers assigned to two infantry battalions of the Army's 11th Airborne Division—the Alaska-based force specializes in cold-weather assignments. "This doesn't mean they will deploy; we are preparing options," one official said. An internal notice reviewed by ABC News shows the troops were recalled to base on Friday and put on standby. Gov. Tim Walz has mobilized but not deployed the Minnesota National Guard; having federalized active-duty troops and state-activated Guard units deployed simultaneously under different orders would be unusual, per ABC. It is possible for the president to federalize National Guard units.
Trump later moderated his rhetoric, telling reporters Friday that he does not currently see a need to rely on the Insurrection Act, per Fox News. He nevertheless emphasized he would not hesitate to use the "very powerful" law if he deemed it necessary. The Army units placed on alert are based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, per ABC, an installation placed as a deterrent to China.
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