President Donald Trump spoke directly with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Monday, urging state and local law enforcement to “work together peacefully” with federal authorities.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the call during Monday’s White House press briefing, saying Trump wants to “let cops be cops.” Leavitt criticized Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of encouraging anti-ICE agitators and claiming the unrest contributed to the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by law enforcement this month.
“It is President Trump’s hope and wish and demand for the resistance and chaos to end today,” Leavitt said. “That’s why President Trump spoke to Gov. Walz directly this morning, and he has outlined a clear and simple path to restoring law and order in Minnesota.”
Leavitt said Trump outlined three demands for Walz, Frey, and other Democratic leaders in the state. First, Trump wants state and local officials to turn over all “illegal aliens” currently incarcerated, along with any illegal aliens who have “active warrants or known criminal histories.”
Trump also called for state and local law enforcement to be allowed to transfer illegal aliens to federal custody when they are arrested. Finally, he asked that local agencies help federal authorities apprehend and detain illegal aliens wanted for crimes.
“If Governor Walz and Mayor Frey implement these common sense cooperative measures … Customs and Border Patrol will not be needed to support ICE on the ground in Minnesota,” Leavitt said. “ICE and local law enforcement can peacefully work together as they are effectively doing in so many other states.”
“We want to let cops be cops,” she added.
The push comes as Trump is also urging Congress to pass legislation banning sanctuary cities, where local law enforcement is prohibited from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
Walz confirmed he spoke with Trump in a statement posted on social media, though he indicated the call did not result in an agreement.
“I spoke to the President earlier. We had a productive conversation and I explained to him that his staff doesn’t have their facts straight about Minnesota,” Walz wrote.
