Hours after President Donald Trump’s “border czar” announced a “significant drawdown” of ICE and other federal agents in Minneapolis, the city’s mayor was skeptical.
But if it proves true, he assigns full credit to “the 435,000 Minneapolis residents that have stood up” to the weeks-long surge of federal agents.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey visited The Daily Show Thursday, the same day Tom Homan said at Minneapolis’ Fort Snelling, “I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude. A significant drawdown has already been under way this week, and will continue through the next week.”
The news comes in the wake of weeks of aggressive patrolling by ICE agents and other federal law enforcement officers, and of course the fatal shootings of mom-of-three Renée Good and ICU nurse Alex Pretti.
“It’s a big day,” Daily Show host Jordan Klepper said as Mayor Frey sat for his visit.
“It’s a huge day,” Frey agreed.
Klepper then summed up Homan’s declaration that Operation Metro Surge is over, and flatly asked: “Do you call bullsh*t on that? Is that really happening? Where are we at with it?”
Measuring his words, Frey answered, “I will believe it when I see it.”
That said, he was ready to assign full credit for any drawdown to the people of his city.
“If you’re looking for anybody to give credit to for the end of Operation Metro Surge, for the pressure that was put on the federal government, for these incredible patriotic acts that have taken place over the last month and a half, give it to the 435,000 Minneapolis residents that have stood up,” Frey said, eliciting cheers and applause from the studio audience.
“I mean, they are truly an inspiration,” the mayor continued. “They have been protesting peacefully by the tens of thousands. They’ve been dropping off food for people that are otherwise scared to go outside and leave their homes. They’re watching guard on a daycare….
“They are the defenders of this great republic in this moment,” he asserted. “They are everything that it means to be American.”
Watch Mayor Frey’s full Daily Show visit above.
