Tensions are escalating on the streets of Minneapolis as President Donald Trump threatens to invoke a powerful and rarely used executive power – the Insurrection Act. The warning comes amid clashes between protesters and law enforcement in the Twin Cities on Friday 16 January 2026.
Unrest in the Twin Cities
Sky News correspondent Martha Kelner is reporting from Minneapolis, where the situation remains volatile. The protests have seen demonstrators confront police and federal agents, leading to a heightened security presence across the city.
Adding to the crisis, a Venezuelan man was shot in a second incident involving an ICE agent, further inflaming community tensions. This shooting marks another flashpoint in a city already on edge, raising serious questions about the federal response to civil disorder.
The Insurrection Act: What It Means
President Trump's threat to invoke the Insurrection Act is a significant escalation. This 1807 law allows a US president to deploy active-duty military forces domestically to suppress civil disorder, insurrection, or rebellion.
Its use is extremely controversial and has been rare in modern history. For the residents of Minneapolis, the president's threat signals a potential move towards martial law, casting a shadow over the city's immediate future and the rights of its citizens to protest.
White House Diplomacy with Venezuela
Against this backdrop of domestic turmoil, President Trump hosted a significant diplomatic meeting at the White House. He welcomed Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, just days after the United States orchestrated the audacious capture of her political rival, the former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
In an exclusive conversation for the Sky News podcast Trump100, Machado revealed details of her discussion with the president. A notable point of their talk centred on the Nobel Peace Prize, which Trump is said to covet. Machado shared with presenter James Matthews how she navigated that sensitive topic during their high-stakes encounter.
The juxtaposition of these events – internal strife in a major American city and high-level geopolitical manoeuvring – defines a critical moment for the Trump administration. The potential use of the Insurrection Act in Minneapolis would represent a profound shift in the relationship between the federal government and civil protest, with consequences that could resonate far beyond the city's limits.
