Trump Accuses Frey of “Playing with Fire”

by Sharon Rondeau

(Jan. 28, 2026) — In a Truth Social post Wednesday morning, President Trump accused Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of contemplating, or committing, “a very serious violation of the Law” and “playing with fire.”

Trump’s statement was based on Frey’s affirmation Tuesday that he and the Minneapolis Police Department will not be cooperating with federal officials in enforcing immigration law.

Known as “Operation Metro Surge,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Frey have opposed the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in the city and state, and each in his own way has unceremoniously asked federal agents to leave and the operation to cease.

Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents have also taken part in making arrests of criminally-convicted illegal aliens, of which Trump reported over the weekend number “12,000” throughout Minnesota.

Tensions rose considerably Saturday after a second fatal shooting of a protester, Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis by CBP officers. The first was on January 7 of Renée Good, who operated a vehicle in the midst of an ICE operation, did not heed an order to exit the car, and continued driving, making contact with another officer who reportedly fired two shots, killing her.

Investigations into both incidents have been launched, DHS has said.

Pretti’s parents in a statement claimed DHS issued “sickening lies” about their son by labeling him a “domestic terrorist” and said he was trying to assist a woman who had reportedly been shoved by a federal agent when he was fatally shot.

The parents, who reside in Wisconsin, also said they warned their son to “go ahead and protest, but do not engage, do not do anything stupid, basically.” 

On Monday Trump ordered a “reset” in personnel, dispatching Border “Czar” Tom Homan to meet with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Frey in an apparent effort to reach an agreement on how immigration enforcement might go forward.

On Monday evening Trump said he spoke with both both men, relating the calls had been productive, civil and cooperative.

For his part, Frey indicated shortly afterward that he “spoke with President Trump today and appreciated the conversation.” Without agreeing to cooperate with federal officials, he added, “I expressed how much Minneapolis has benefited from our immigrant communities and was clear that my main task is that Operation Metro Surge needs to end. The president agreed the present situation can’t continue.”

On Tuesday afternoon Frey went a step further, acknowledging having met with Homan with Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara and reinforcing his resolve “for Operation Metro Surge to end as quickly as possible.”

While Minneapolis police are often not seen at the frequent protests taking place, Frey claimed the operation imposes “strain” on the department.

He then stated he would not enforce “federal immigration laws,” which, from DHS’s standpoint, encompasses the arrests and deportations of the “worst of the worst.”

In response to Trump’s Truth Social post Wednesday, Frey wrote on X, ” The job of our police is to keep people safe, not enforce fed immigration laws. I want them preventing homicides, not hunting down a working dad who contributes to MPLS and is from Ecuador. It’s similar to the policy your guy Rudy had in NYC. Everyone should feel safe calling 911.”

As of this writing, Trump is hosting the formal launch of his “TrumpAccounts” for newborn U.S. citizens born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028 and a subset of children age 10 and under, and has not commented further on Frey’s remarks.