With reports circulating that the Pentagon is prepping 1,500 active-duty soldiers for a potential deployment to Minnesota, Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego (AZ) offered a blistering critique of the administration’s strategy Sunday, accusing the White House of treating the U.S. military as a personal “toy” for political intimidation.
Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, the Arizona Democrat did not mince words when anchor Jake Tapper asked about the looming possibility of federal troops entering the volatility in Minnesota. While defense officials have characterized the move as a precaution rather than an imminent order, Gallego argued the mere threat is calculated. RELATED: Arctic Infantry On Standby: 1,500 Troops Alerted For Minnesota As Insurrection Act Threat Looms
“He wants nothing more [than] to be able to use them and deploy them to these blue cities to intimidate,” Gallego said, suggesting the administration is prioritizing “personal entertainment” over public safety. “He doesn’t care who gets hurt in the process.”
Showdown Over ICE Funding
The tension isn’t limited to street protests. A looming government funding deadline has set the stage for a showdown on Capitol Hill, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the center of the fight.
Gallego, a veteran, signaled he is willing to withhold votes for Department of Homeland Security funding if the agency isn’t reined in. Referencing the recent death of Renee Good, which has sparked renewed calls among progressives to abolish the agency, Gallego clarified his stance.
While he stopped short of using the “abolish” slogan, he called for the current iteration of the agency to be “totally torn down.”
READ: “Invaded”: Minneapolis Mayor Defies Trump As 1,500 Active-Duty Troops Put On Standby
“We cannot vote for anything that actually adds more money and doesn’t constrain ICE,” Gallego told Tapper. He described current operations as a “goon squad” molded by White House advisor Stephen Miller, contrasting it with the criminal-focused enforcement he believes the public actually supports.
“We want a security force that is focused on targeting and deporting criminals,” he added. “What they’re doing right now is actually suppressing U.S. citizens.”
Foreign Policy and ‘Shocked’ Allies
The interview also touched on the administration’s recent, unconventional interest in purchasing Greenland. Gallego, who recently met with foreign ministers from Denmark and Greenland, described the diplomatic fallout as severe.
“They’re shocked,” Gallego said of the foreign officials. He dismissed the President’s interest in the territory as a grasp for a “legacy piece,” warning that the overtures jeopardize critical alliances.
RELATED: Pence Walks Tightrope: Backs Greenland Buy But Rips Trump’s “Questionable” Threats Against NATO
“The idea that we’re going to waste money for everything we want is the dumbest decision we could make,” Gallego noted, pointing out that Danish officials have already offered cooperation on basing and security without selling the land itself. “The only person who could make a decision this dumb is someone that would actually let a casino go under.”
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