President Donald Trump has demanded harsh legal action, including potential imprisonment or deportation, against protesters who disrupted a church service in Minnesota, branding them as paid and highly trained "agitators".
Church Service Interrupted in ICE Protest
The controversy stems from an incident on Sunday, January 18, when a group of demonstrators stormed into the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Their target was the congregation's pastor, David Easterwood, who also serves as the acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) St. Paul field office.
Chanting "ICE out", the protesters entered the building to voice opposition to the federal immigration agency's presence in their state. They also called for justice for Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who was shot dead by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on the streets of Minneapolis earlier this month.
"This will not stand, they cannot pretend to be a house of God, while harboring someone who is commanding ICE agents to terrorize our communities," protester Nekima Levy Armstrong told independent journalist Don Lemon, who was livestreaming the event.
Trump's Fury and Claims of 'Professional' Agitators
In the early hours of Tuesday, January 20, President Trump responded forcefully on his Truth Social platform. He claimed, without presenting evidence, that the individuals involved were not ordinary citizens.
"No person acts the way they act. They are highly trained to scream, rant, and rave, like lunatics, in a certain manner, just like they are doing," Trump wrote. He described them as "trained professionals" and "agitators and insurrectionists".
He went further, stating these "troublemakers should be thrown in jail, or thrown out of the Country". His ire extended to prominent Minnesota Democrats, specifically calling for investigations into Governor Tim Walz and Representative Ilhan Omar, whom he accused of corruption.
Legal Fallout and Political Backlash
The incident has triggered a significant legal and political response. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced that the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division has opened an investigation into potential violations of the federal FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act). This 1994 law protects places of worship from intimidation and obstruction.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the president's stance, warning that "President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship."
The footage sparked outrage among Trump's supporters. Influencer Benny Johnson alleged Don Lemon's involvement could constitute a hate crime, while rapper and vocal MAGA supporter Nicki Minaj called for Lemon's arrest. Lemon retaliated, telling TMZ that Minaj "does not understand journalism" and later labelling her "unhinged and homophobic" on social media.
Within the church, congregants expressed anger and violation. One churchgoer stated, "These people have come into our house and they’ve interrupted our worship... I feel violated, I feel interrupted, I feel angry."
The White House has not provided additional clarification on the president's remarks regarding deportation for the US citizens involved in the protest.
