President Donald Trump’s senior adviser Stephen Miller set off a political firestorm late Sunday after declaring that state and local law enforcement have been ordered to stand down amid ongoing anti-ICE protests, asserting that only federal officers are currently enforcing the law.
In a post on social media, Miller wrote bluntly that “only federal officers are upholding the law,” adding that local and state police have been told to “stand down and surrender.” The comment immediately drew attention for its stark language and came as demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement continue to grip Minnesota.
Miller’s statement was issued in response to a post by New York Post columnist Miranda Devine, who wrote earlier Sunday that local police had effectively gone absent as unrest unfolded. Miller echoed that concern, suggesting that federal authorities have been left to handle the situation alone while other law enforcement agencies step aside.
The remarks followed earlier comments by Miller in which he described the anti-ICE protesters as an “insurgency,” language that underscored the administration’s increasingly hard-line stance toward the demonstrations. Those comments came as President Trump publicly threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a move that would allow the use of the U.S. military in response to domestic unrest in Minnesota.
Miller expanded on his view during an appearance Thursday on The Charlie Kirk Show, where he argued that the protesters’ own rhetoric and actions reveal their intentions. He said Americans only need to listen to the protesters’ words and observe their conduct to understand what is unfolding. According to Miller, demonstrators are openly describing the federal government as an occupying force, a characterization he said amounts to a direct challenge to federal authority.
He urged listeners to consider the implications of that language, framing it as evidence that the protests go beyond dissent and cross into open defiance of the federal government. Miller’s comments painted a picture of a movement that, in his view, is no longer about policy disagreement but about resisting lawful authority.
The administration’s rhetoric reflects growing frustration as protests continue and tensions remain high. By asserting that local and state law enforcement have been sidelined, Miller placed responsibility squarely on federal officers, portraying them as the last line of defense in maintaining order.
His statements also signal how seriously the White House views the unrest. Labeling the protests an insurgency elevates the situation from civil disturbance to a national security concern, laying rhetorical groundwork for extraordinary federal action. Trump’s mention of the Insurrection Act further reinforced that message, suggesting the administration is willing to consider rare and sweeping measures if it believes the situation warrants it.
Miller’s comments drew attention not only for their substance but for their tone, which was unusually blunt even by the standards of an administration known for sharp rhetoric. By claiming local police were ordered to stand down, he raised questions about coordination between federal and local authorities and whether political leaders are restraining law enforcement responses.
As anti-ICE demonstrations continue, Miller’s remarks highlight a deepening divide over how the unrest should be handled and who bears responsibility for enforcing the law. For the Trump administration, the message was clear: federal officers are stepping in where others, in their view, have stepped aside, and the White House is prepared to escalate its response if protests continue to challenge federal authority.
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