Trump Week 55: Federal Shifts, Voting, and Immigration Changes

The week included changes to immigration enforcement, statements on voting authority, and major moves affecting arts and public health.

Dante Belcher

Feb 6, 2026

Courtesy of Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

Trump’s 55th week brought updates to immigration, voting, the arts and public health. This comes as 700 immigration agents—including both ICE and Border Patrol—left Minnesota following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both U.S. citizens. At the same time, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that remaining agents in Minnesota would “immediately” start wearing body cameras. Meanwhile, Trump faced backlash after suggesting Republicans “nationalize” elections, following previous accusations of voter fraud in the 2020 election and a prior report from The Introspective detailing the FBI seizing voter records in Georgia.

Trump later announced that the Kennedy Center—a D.C. landmark for arts and entertainment— would close for two years starting in July. Following a previous Introspective report detailing California joining the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, Illinois became the second state to join after the U.S. left the organization.

Minnesota and Voting

As anti-immigrant sentiment continues, Border Czar Tom Homan announced that 700 immigration agents would leave Minnesota following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

“My goal, with the support of President Trump, is to achieve a complete drawdown and end this surge as soon as we can,” Homan said, adding that 2,000 agents would remain in the region.

“If you’re in the country illegally, you are not off the table,” he added.

“Let me be clear: President Trump fully intends to achieve mass deportations during this administration, and immigration enforcement actions will continue every day throughout this country.”

Homan later criticized protesters against ICE, saying that the reduction of agents does not include “personnel providing security for our officers.”

“It’s shameful and incomprehensible to me that this unlawful and threatening behavior is being tolerated by anyone,” he said.

“You’re not going to stop ICE. You’re not going to stop Border Patrol,” he added.

“The only thing you’re doing is irritating your community that want to go get groceries or pick your children up or whatever.”

Border Czar Tom Homan/Courtesy of Charly Tribablleau/AFP/Getty Images

This comes as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that agents would “immediately” start wearing body cameras.

“Effective immediately, we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis,” she wrote on X.

“As funding is available, the body camera program will be expanded nationwide,” she continued.

“We will rapidly acquire and deploy body cameras to DHS law enforcement across the country.”

In a statement obtained by The Introspective, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey acknowledged the reduction, calling it a “step in the right direction,” but criticized the ongoing operations.

“The drawdown and body-worn cameras are a step in the right direction, but 2,000 ICE officers still here is not de-escalation,” he wrote.

“My message to the White House has been consistent—Operation Metro Surge has been catastrophic for our residents and businesses. It needs to end immediately.”

Meanwhile, following a previous report from The Introspective highlighting the FBI seizing voter records in Georgia, Trump suggested that Republicans “nationalize” elections after previously alleging voter fraud in the 2020 election.

“The Republicans should say, ‘We want to take over. We should take over the voting in at least 15 places,’” he said on former FBI Director Dan Bongino’s podcast.

“The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune criticized Trump’s comments while speaking to reporters, saying he does not support the federal government running elections, citing the Constitution.

“I’m supportive of only citizens voting and showing ID at polling places. I think that makes sense.…But I’m not in favor of federalizing elections, no. I think that’s a constitutional issue,” he said.

“I’m a big believer in decentralized and distributed power, and I think it’s harder to hack 50 election systems than it is to hack one. In my view, at least, that’s always a system that has worked pretty well.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune/Courtesy of Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

A previous report from The Introspective detailed an executive order requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.

Kennedy Center and Illinois

Trump announced that the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts would close for two years starting in July for renovations, raising implications as the center has seen various events canceled since the start of Trump’s second term.

“Based on these findings, and totally subject to board approval, I have determined that the fastest way to bring the Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of success, beauty, and grandeur is to cease entertainment operations for an approximately two-year period of time, with a scheduled grand reopening that will rival and surpass anything that has taken place with respect to such a facility before,” he wrote on Truth Social.

“Therefore, the Trump Kennedy Center will close on July 4, 2026, in honor of the 250th anniversary of our country, whereupon we will simultaneously begin construction of the new and spectacular entertainment complex.”

Courtesy of Truth Social

Trump was previously named chair of the Kennedy Center last February.

The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts/Courtesy of Rahmat Gul/Associated Press

Meanwhile, Illinois became the second state to join the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network after the U.S. left the World Health Organization.

“By withdrawing from the World Health Organization, Donald Trump has undermined science and weakened our nation’s ability to detect and respond to global health threats. I refuse to sit idly by and let that happen,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a press release.

“By joining the World Health Organization’s coordinated network, GOARN, we are ensuring that our public health leaders—and the public—have the information, expertise, and partnerships they need to protect the people of our state.”

This follows a previous Introspective report detailing California becoming the first state to join the network.

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