Minneapolis Mayor Frey criticizes Trump ahead of State of the Union

Frey says all Americans 'should be pissed' over the administration's immigration policies

Feb. 25, 2026 at 12:35am

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In an interview with CNN's Erin Burnett, Democratic Mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Frey criticized the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies ahead of the President's upcoming State of the Union address. Frey, whose city has been at odds with the federal government over immigration, said that all Americans 'should be pissed' about the administration's actions.

Why it matters

The tense relationship between the Trump administration and local leaders like Frey over immigration enforcement has been a major political flashpoint. Frey's comments reflect the ongoing tensions between the federal government and cities that have adopted 'sanctuary' policies to limit cooperation with immigration authorities.

The details

In the interview, Frey accused the Trump administration of 'bullying' local governments and said the federal government's immigration crackdown has had a chilling effect on immigrant communities in Minneapolis. Frey has been a vocal critic of the administration's immigration policies and has vowed to maintain Minneapolis' status as a sanctuary city.

  • The interview took place on February 24, 2026, ahead of President Trump's State of the Union address scheduled for February 25, 2026.

The players

Jacob Frey

The Democratic mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration's immigration policies.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, whose administration's immigration enforcement efforts have been at odds with sanctuary cities like Minneapolis.

Erin Burnett

The CNN anchor who interviewed Mayor Frey.

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What they’re saying

“All Americans should be pissed about what's happening with immigration enforcement.”

— Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis (CNN)

What’s next

Mayor Frey's comments are likely to further inflame tensions between the Trump administration and sanctuary cities like Minneapolis ahead of the President's State of the Union address.

The takeaway

The ongoing clash between the federal government and local leaders over immigration enforcement continues to be a major political flashpoint, with mayors like Jacob Frey vowing to maintain their cities' sanctuary policies in the face of pressure from the Trump administration.