Airborne troops put on alert for possible deployment to Minnesota

by DLup

Community

(This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026 Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026 at 7:41:58am PST

I have not seen this here yet, but according to ABC news online last night (Saturday, January 18) at 8:30 PM CST,

Some 1,500 active duty Army paratroopers have been put on alert for a potential deployment to Minnesota, according to two defense officials.

This is two battalions of the 11th Airborne Division stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska.

The Washington Post has also reported this story (no link).

The Department of Defense of course prepares in advance for a wide range of possible orders, so this does not necessarily mean that Trump will enact the Insurrection Act and order active duty military to Minnesota (meaning Minneapolis primarily), but it does allow for a faster deployment should Trump do so.

I do not know what would or can happen with the now activated Minnesota National Guard in terms of Federalization should Trump enact the Insurrection Act, but the situation of conflicting orders and possibly loyalties for a military unit seems very non-ideal.