Donald Trump has issued another warning that raises serious questions about who he believes the government exists to protect. Spoiler alert. It is not ordinary Americans. Not even the people who voted for him.
Trump threatens protesters with “equal or greater consequences”
On January 31, 2026, Trump posted a long message reacting to protests in Democratic led cities. He said federal agencies would stay out of local protests unless state or city leaders asked for help. He added that they would have to ask nicely.
That was not the most alarming part. Trump said federal buildings and property would be protected “very powerfully.” He ordered ICE and Border Patrol to be “very forceful” in their actions. His language kept escalating.
He warned protesters not to spit at officers. Not to touch federal vehicles. Not to throw rocks or bricks. Then he crossed a line. Trump said anyone who does these things would suffer “equal or more consequences.” That phrase is not a legal standard. It does not refer to arrest or trial. It sounds like retaliation.
Trump explains himself and sounds even worse
Later that day, a reporter asked Trump to explain what “equal or greater consequence” actually means. His answer only deepened concern. Trump said if protesters do anything bad to “our people,” they will have to suffer. He apologized once, then doubled down.
He said people who spit or punch “our soldiers” or “our patriots” will be dealt with using “very, very serious force.” He framed this as letting officers respond instead of being forced to stand there and take it. Many Americans watching know who has actually been forced to stand there and take it in recent years.
Who Donald Trump means when he says “our people”
Trump’s words reveal something important. When he says “our people,” he is not talking about citizens. He is talking about ICE agents. Border Patrol. Soldiers. Federal vehicles. Federal property.
Protesters are not treated as Americans with rights. They are described as lunatics. Agitators. Insurrectionists. Anarchists. One step away from being labeled terrorists.
This is not just about protecting buildings. It is about redefining whose safety matters. In Trump’s framing, the state comes first. Its agents come first. Everyone else is a problem to be controlled.
If anyone still believes the president is talking about protecting them when he says “our people,” it may be time to listen more closely.
