President Donald Trump’s administration has launched a federal investigation after a mob of leftist agitators stormed a church in Minneapolis during a Sunday worship service, disrupting congregants and allegedly targeting the pastor over a false belief that he is a senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official.
According to attendees and video footage from the scene, dozens of agitators burst into the Cities Church sanctuary roughly halfway through the service.
WATCH:
NOW :: ICE protesters storm church service in Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/qC2Eelw50g
— Culture War Report (@CultureWar2020) January 18, 2026
The mob reportedly believed one of the church’s pastors was serving as the acting director of ICE’s St. Paul field office.
Senior officials in the Trump administration quickly condemned the incident and pledged a full federal response.
DOJ Vows “Full Force of Federal Law”
Attorney General Pam Bondi said she personally spoke with the targeted pastor and made clear that the federal government would not tolerate attacks on law enforcement or religious institutions.
“I just spoke to the Pastor in Minnesota whose church was targeted. Attacks against law enforcement and the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law,” Bondi said in a statement.
“If state leaders refuse to act responsibly to prevent lawlessness, this Department of Justice will remain mobilized to prosecute federal crimes and ensure that the rule of law prevails,” she added.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also condemned the attack, saying the administration would not tolerate harassment of Christians in places of worship.
“President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship,” Leavitt said.
She confirmed that the Department of Justice has launched a full investigation into the incident.
Footage from the scene shows agitators shouting inside the church during the service.
Church attendees revealed that “protesters” followed them into the parking lot afterward, with some surrounding vehicles and attempting to block congregants from leaving.
Civil Rights Division Investigating
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said her office is actively investigating the attack.
“We are hard at work investigating the incident,” Dhillon said. “We will not rest until we are able to deliver justice.”
The investigation marks the latest federal response to escalating confrontations between anti-ICE activists and both law enforcement and private citizens in the Twin Cities region.
Frey Defends Protesters, Blames Federal Agents
Despite the disruption of a church service, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey continued to defend anti-ICE protesters and rejected claims that local leaders are enabling unrest.
Appearing Sunday on “Face the Nation,” Frey dismissed the Trump administration’s characterization of the situation and accused federal authorities of targeting minority communities.
“This is not about safety,” Frey claimed.
“What this is about is coming into our city by the thousands and terrorizing people simply because they’re Latino or Somali.
“People in Minneapolis are speaking up.
“They’re speaking up peacefully.
“They’re standing up for their neighbors.”
Frey added that the protests were “inspiring,” framing them as an act of community solidarity rather than intimidation, comments that drew sharp criticism given the targeting of a church during a religious service.
Federal officials, meanwhile, have warned that disrupting worship services, intimidating congregants, and obstructing law enforcement cross clear legal lines and will be treated accordingly.
As the investigation proceeds, the Trump administration has signaled it will aggressively pursue charges tied to religious intimidation and interference with lawful federal operations.
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