The claim that Tim Walz says he has activated the National Guard is true because multiple recent and reliable sources from January 2026 confirm that Governor Walz mobilized the Minnesota National Guard amid ongoing protests and tensions in Minneapolis.
True
Tim Walz says he has activated the National Guard.
VERIFY: Gov. Walz, not President Trump, deployed the National Guard during the 2020 unrest
Source: kare11.com
At a glance
Verified January 24, 2026Key Evidence
CNN reported on January 17-18, 2026, that Gov. Walz mobilized the National Guard to support state patrol amid protests.
FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul confirmed Walz authorized the Guard out of caution to assist local law enforcement.
The Hill and other outlets also noted the Guard was put on alert and mobilized under Walz's direction following the ICE shooting incident.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
Multiple independent and reputable news outlets report that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz authorized or mobilized the state National Guard in response to protests following a fatal shooting involving an ICE agent. These sources include CNN, FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, The Hill, and others, all dated mid-January 2026. The National Guard was mobilized to support local law enforcement and public safety efforts, though some reports clarify that troops were staged and ready but not necessarily deployed on city streets immediately.
This activation is consistent across all sources, indicating a coordinated state-level response by Governor Walz to the civil unrest situation. There is no contradictory evidence disputing that Walz made this call; rather, the sources provide consistent confirmation of his statement and action.
Primary trail
Verified Sources10
Open source