US Insurrection Act

US Insurrection Act

A flag reading "RESIST" flaps in the foreground as federal agents stand guard near a vehicle during a demonstration outside the Whipple Federal Building, more than a week after a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good on 7 January, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US, on 15 January 2026. Photo: Tim Evans/Reuters

Explainer: What is the Insurrection Act and why does Trump wants to unleash it?

The threat follows days of unrest triggered by an expanded operation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Members of the National Guard walk near the White House on the National Mall after US President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard and ordered an increased presence of federal law enforcement to assist in crime prevention, in Washington, D.C., US, August 21, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Al Drago

Explainer: Trump keeps bringing up the Insurrection Act. What is it?