Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey delivered a powerful message to the Trump administration, expressing strong disapproval of their recent actions.
During an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, Frey spoke with host Jake Tapper, describing his city as being “under siege” following the recent influx of ICE agents, a result of President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security’s aggressive immigration enforcement.
“This is absurd, but we refuse to be cowed by the federal government’s actions,” Frey asserted during the interview with Tapper.
Earlier, the editorial board of the Minneapolis Star Tribune likened the situation in Minnesota to a “military occupation,” a sentiment that Frey echoed in his remarks.
Frey stated to Tapper that his city is “under siege, occupied—use whatever term or superlative you prefer—but the crux is that these actions are meant to intimidate.”
Furthermore, Frey criticized the Trump administration’s approach as “unfair” and “completely unconstitutional.” Despite these challenges, he praised Minneapolis residents for their resilience and expressed his pride in being part of the community.
It was reported on Sunday morning that 1,500 troops are ‘on standby’ for a deployment to Minnesota amid protests in the state, following two shootings in the city involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers since last week.’
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey appears on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday, where he was interviewed by host Jake Tapper
A anti-ICE protester shouts as he and others like him confronted a Minneapolis police armored vehicle in a corner in downtown Minneapolis after a small group of right wing activists showed up to attend a ‘Americans Against Islamification’ rally near City Hall in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 17, 2026
Trump’s Department of Justice launched an investigation Friday into the Democratic governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, as well as Frey, over volatile protests against ICE in the city.
Both Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Frey are under investigation for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement, CBS News reported.
Frey doubled down Sunday on the fact he has still not ‘received anything, a subpoena or otherwise,’ telling NBC’s Meet The Press moderator Kristen Welker that it is his ‘responsibility to speak on behalf of Minneapolis residents.’
‘It’s my responsibility to do everything possible to keep our city safe. And so while I haven’t received a subpoena or anything else at this point, this should be deeply concerning, not just for Minneapolis but for anybody out there,’ Frey added.
A US official told CBS that Walz and Frey’s anti-ICE rhetoric is what spurred the investigation.
Attorney General Pam Bondi posted to social media Friday night: ‘A reminder to all those in Minnesota: No one is above the law.’
Walz told The Daily Mail the investigation is part of a pattern of targeting lawmakers who don’t comply with Donald Trump.
‘Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic,’ said Walz, who was forced to drop his re-election bid after facing scrutiny over government fraud involving Somali-run daycare centers.
‘The only person not being investigated for the shooting of Renee Good is the federal agent who shot her.’
Sources in Walz’s office and a spokesperson for Frey both told The Daily Mail on Friday they had received no notice of an investigation.
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Confrontations break outside of the Minneapolis City Hall as controversial activist Jake Lang hosts rally calling for deportation of all Muslims in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, January 17 2026
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is seen Friday, January 16, 2026, in Minneapolis
‘This is an obvious attempt to intimidate me for standing up for Minneapolis, our local law enforcement, and our residents against the chaos and danger this Administration has brought to our streets. I will not be intimidated,’ Frey told The Daily Mail Friday.
‘My focus will remain where it’s always been: keeping our city safe. America depends on leaders that use integrity and the rule of law as the guideposts for governance. Neither our city nor our country will succumb to this fear. We stand rock solid,’ he added.
Earlier Friday, Trump posted to Truth Social: ‘In Minnesota, the Troublemakers, Agitators, and Insurrectionists are, in many cases, highly paid professionals. The Governor and Mayor don’t know what to do, they have totally lost control, and our currently being rendered, USELESS! If, and when, I am forced to act, it will be solved, QUICKLY and EFFECTIVELY!’
The liberal leaders have been heavily critical of federal law enforcement in the wake of the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an agent on January 7.
Frey told ICE agents to ‘get the f**k out of Minneapolis’ as tensions have escalated in the city.
Walz, the Democrat nominee for vice president in 2024, has also taken shots at the president and told ICE to leave.
On Wednesday, Frey slammed ICE officials again for ‘creating chaos’ in his city after an agent who was ‘ambushed’ during an arrest shot a suspect in the leg.
The Department of Homeland Security said the suspect was an illegal migrant from Venezuela who ran away on foot Wednesday night before joining two others to attack the agent with a ‘broomstick or shovel.’
The suspect was shot in the leg and remains in a stable condition in hospital. Two accomplices were also in police custody, and the agent involved was also taken to hospital after he was violently set upon by the trio.
Law enforcement officers wearing masks were using tear gas and flash bangs on protesters at the scene, just 4.5 miles north of where Good was shot, in an effort to control the crowds.
Frey urged protesters who had arrived at the scene to ‘go home’, warning they were making matters worse and ‘taking the bait.’
‘For anyone who is taking the bait tonight: stop,’ he said at a late-night press conference to address the second ICE shooting to rock his city in a week.
‘It is not helpful. Go home. We cannot counter Donald Trump’s chaos with our own chaos.
‘You are not helping the undocumented immigrants in our city, you are not helping the people who call this place home.’
The Trump administration has sent nearly 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota.
