United States Attorney General Pam Bondi said federal authorities are prepared to step in if Minnesota leaders do not support law enforcement, delivering a pointed warning to Gov. Tim Walz during a Fox News interview centered on unrest and immigration enforcement in Minneapolis. Bondi said her office sent Walz a “very strong letter” and questioned the response of state and local officials to recent protests and federal immigration actions.
“I do not understand these people,” Bondi said. “We sent Governor Tim Walz a very strong letter today. He better support President Trump and the men and women in law enforcement, because if he doesn’t, we are—and that is what we are doing right now.”
Pam Bondi on Fox News just now pic.twitter.com/BdOMgwR6vv
— My moms caregiver (@mymomcare) January 24, 2026
Bondi framed the situation in Minneapolis as the result of long-standing sanctuary city policies, arguing that local leadership had encouraged criminal activity by shielding undocumented immigrants from federal enforcement. She said Minneapolis had effectively invited serious offenders into the city and accused city and state officials of protecting them rather than prioritizing public safety.
According to Bondi, recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minneapolis targeted violent offenders, and she listed a series of crimes she said were connected to individuals in the country illegally, including sexual assault, rape, and robbery. She placed responsibility for those outcomes on Democratic leadership, including President Joe Biden, Mayor Jacob Frey, and Gov. Walz, accusing them of creating conditions that allowed such individuals to remain in the community.
Bondi said she was in Minneapolis during the past week and described federal law enforcement actions as necessary to protect residents, churches, and synagogues. She emphasized that the Trump administration views support for law enforcement as a core priority and said federal agencies would act where local leaders would not.
The interview also touched on protests that have followed recent arrests. Bondi said what she observed on the ground appeared highly organized, pointing to coordinated signage and the widespread presence of gas masks among protesters as evidence. She argued the demonstrations were designed to disrupt law enforcement operations and said federal authorities would not tolerate interference with officers performing their duties.
Questions were raised during the interview about potential outside influence behind the unrest and the scope of a federal investigation. Bondi confirmed that subpoenas had been issued to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Gov. Walz but said she could not comment further because the matter involves a pending criminal investigation. She noted that both officials have publicly acknowledged receiving subpoenas from her office connected to a federal grand jury.
Bondi criticized public statements from Walz and Frey that called on federal immigration authorities to leave the city, arguing that such rhetoric only escalates tensions. She singled out Frey’s comments toward ICE as particularly inflammatory and said local leaders were undermining law enforcement by framing federal actions as threats rather than protections.
“I do have a message for ICE… get the f*ck out of Minneapolis."
— Irlandarra (@aldamu_jo) January 9, 2026
Jacob Frey, Minneapolis' mayor, pic.twitter.com/fTVzVORfZo
When asked about potential next steps, Bondi said the administration would closely watch how Walz responds. She made clear that federal involvement would continue if state and local officials declined to cooperate, stressing that multiple agencies were already engaged.
Bondi said the Department of Justice is coordinating with Homeland Security and has deployed support from the FBI, DEA, and ATF to Minneapolis. She added that while President Trump has discussed the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, no decision has been made, describing the situation as fluid and evolving.
Throughout the interview, Bondi repeatedly returned to the administration’s position that federal authorities have an obligation to act when local leaders, in their view, fail to maintain order. Her warning to Gov. Walz underscored that stance, signaling that the White House and Justice Department are prepared to escalate their response if cooperation from Minnesota officials does not change.
