President Trump announced he had a “very good call” with Governor Tim Walz and said they were “on a similar wavelength,” a phrase the leftist media rushed to spin but conservatives should read as leverage, not capitulation. The president made clear he would send border czar Tom Homan to coordinate with Minnesota officials and pressed for the transfer of any criminals in state custody to federal authorities.
This conversation did not happen in a vacuum; it comes after weeks of federal immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis that exploded into protests following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during an ICE-related operation. The unrest included demonstrations at hotels and clashes with law enforcement, creating a law-and-order crisis that demands decisive, not performative, leadership.
Governor Walz predictably lashed out, labeling federal tactics “un-American” and painting ICE agents as villains to appease his radical base, while also publicly insisting he wants impartial investigations and fewer federal boots on the ground. That two-faced posture — demanding investigations while stoking outrage — is exactly why President Trump’s firm but flexible posture is the right play.
Trump’s move to dispatch Tom Homan and demand cooperation on criminal detainers is classic checkmate politics: offer a deal that forces Democratic leaders to either comply with obvious law-enforcement norms or expose themselves as defenders of disorder. Conservatives should celebrate a president who knows how to use leverage to protect communities without surrendering the rule of law.
Some on the right worry the president is “backing down” because a reduction in federal presence is being discussed, but that misunderstands the situation. True conservatives know that strategic redeployment after extracting concessions and promises of cooperation is strength, not weakness; it forces opponents to show their cards and makes it easier to secure durable, enforceable agreements.
Meanwhile, Democrats and activists who cheered when law enforcement was pushed back should explain to Minnesotans why chaos on the streets is preferable to enforcement of criminal law and commonsense immigration policy. Hardworking Americans deserve safe neighborhoods and accountable government, not theater designed to inflame for political gain.
The bottom line is simple: President Trump has put Minnesota’s leadership on the record and created a choose-your-own-adventure moment — cooperate and protect your citizens, or refuse and reveal your priorities to voters ahead of the next election. Patriots who care about safety, sovereignty, and order should stand behind a leader who uses realpolitik to defend the American people.
