GOP Lawmakers Urge Trump to Arrest Governor Walz After National Guard Warning
Republican lawmakers have intensified their demands for President Donald Trump to take legal action against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz following the governor’s decision to place the state’s National Guard on high alert. On Thursday, January 8, 2026, several high-profile GOP members of Congress, including Representatives Mary Miller and Nancy Mace, publicly urged the President to invoke the Insurrection Act and arrest Walz for what they characterize as an attempt to obstruct federal law enforcement. The calls for arrest stem from a “warning order” Walz issued to the Minnesota National Guard on Wednesday, shortly after a fatal shooting involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in South Minneapolis. Republicans argue that Walz’s suggestion that state troops could be used to “push back” on federal immigration operations constitutes a direct violation of the U.S. Constitution and a threat to the safety of federal officers operating within the state.+2
The political standoff reached a fever pitch as Representative Mary Miller took to social media to state that the Insurrection Act should be used to arrest the governor for his “dangerous and unconstitutional” rhetoric. She was joined by Representative Nancy Mace, who reminded the governor that federal authority supersedes state authority under the Supremacy Clause. These lawmakers contend that Walz is inciting civil unrest by characterizing federal immigration enforcement as an “assault on Minnesota” and by signaling that state-controlled military assets might interfere with “Operation Metro Surge.” The administration has signaled a similar tone, with Vice President JD Vance describing the opposition to ICE as “classic terrorism” and framing the governor’s actions as part of a larger, coordinated effort by the political left to undermine national security and the rule of law.+2
Governor Walz has defended his actions as a necessary precaution to protect public safety and ensure the peace during a time of extreme community trauma. Speaking at a news conference, Walz clarified that the National Guard is intended to support local law enforcement and prevent further violence following the death of Renee Nicole Good, rather than to engage in a kinetic conflict with federal agents. However, he remains steadfast in his criticism of the Trump administration, accusing the White House of deploying 2,000 federal agents into Minneapolis without any coordination with local authorities. Walz argued that the federal surge has been “chaotic” and “avoidable,” leading to a breakdown in trust between the community and law enforcement. He specifically addressed Secretary Kristi Noem and President Trump, stating that they have “done enough” damage and that the state will conduct its own independent investigation into the recent shooting.+2
The situation in Minneapolis remains precarious as the FBI has officially taken over the investigation into the shooting of Renee Nicole Good, revoking the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s access to key evidence. This move has further enraged state leaders, who fear a federal “cover-up” of the incident. While GOP lawmakers continue to push for the President to “use the law” to remove Walz from power, constitutional experts warn that invoking the Insurrection Act against a sitting governor for staging National Guard troops would represent an unprecedented expansion of presidential power. As protesters continue to clash with federal building security in St. Paul and Minneapolis schools remain closed, the friction between the federal government and the State of Minnesota has become the primary domestic crisis of the new year, with neither side showing signs of retreating.
