The Insurrection Law Being Considered by Trump—What to Know

The Insurrection Act of 1807 outlines circumstances in which the president may deploy National Guard or military forces domestically.
The Insurrection Law Being Considered by Trump—What to Know
President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn after arriving on Marine One at the White House in Washington on Oct. 10, 2025. AP Photo/Alex Brandon
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Since his 2024 campaign to reclaim the White House, President Donald Trump has repeatedly raised the prospect of invoking a little-known insurrection law that dates back to the earliest days of the American Republic.

That law, the Insurrection Act of 1807, outlines circumstances in which the president may deploy National Guard or military forces domestically, providing some of the only exceptions to the limits the law otherwise places on such actions.