Bannon Calls Minneapolis a 'Festering Sore,' Urges Trump Administration to 'Double Down, Triple Down' on Enforcement

Steve Bannon urged the Trump administration to intensify its immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, framing recent protests and unrest as part of a coordinated national threat and criticizing any effort to de-escalate federal operations, as Trump has suggested.

During a passage of his War Room podcast, Bannon described Minneapolis as "one of the festering sores of this country" and warned against easing enforcement. "If you blink in Minneapolis, they're gonna overwhelm you, and they're gonna win," he said. "Double down, triple down. Sending Homan there is a good first effort," he added, referring to President Donald Trump's decision to dispatch border czar Tom Homan to oversee operations in the city.

BANNON: You cannot blink in Minneapolis. That is one of the festering sores of this country and that’s where they’ve all come together. You have to take care of the issue. You have to lance the boil there. pic.twitter.com/kDPTqUOl28

— Grace Chong, MBI (@gc22gc) January 26, 2026

Bannon argued that protests following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, were part of what he called an organized campaign. "This is just not Minneapolis—this is an organized, well thought through effort to invade the country," he said as The New Republic reports. He also alleged links to foreign actors and domestic political networks.

Jack Posobiec, appearing alongside Bannon, claimed that "insurgents" were traveling to Minneapolis from other regions, including New England, and suggested financial backing for protest activity.

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Bannon's remarks reflect growing pressure from hard-line supporters of Trump's immigration agenda as the president signals a possible shift in tone after two fatal shootings involving federal agents in Minnesota. Trump has said he wants to "de-escalate a little bit" in Minneapolis, while maintaining that his administration remains committed to aggressive deportation policies.

The debate has exposed divisions within the administration and its political base. Advisers have weighed whether enforcement tactics should be recalibrated amid public criticism, while prominent supporters have warned against any perceived retreat. "You blink now and you're going to blink forever," Bannon said in a separate appearance, urging the administration to resist calls for restraint.

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