A former White House cabinet secretary raised alarm on Monday, warning that President Donald Trump and a group of key officials are placing Americans in “imminent danger.” Robert Reich, who served as Labor Secretary during the Clinton administration, made the remarks in a new essay published on Substack.
In it, he claims that Trump appears to be laying the groundwork for martial law or even a civil war, particularly through his decisions to deploy troops from red states into blue states. Reich argues that the actions being taken are the result of a strategy developed by a “troika” of influential figures within the Trump administration: Vice President JD Vance, senior advisor Stephen Miller, and Office of Management and Budget Secretary Russ Vought.
Reich believes that the deployment of National Guard units is part of a larger plan to invoke the Insurrection Act, a law that allows the president to take extraordinary measures to suppress domestic unrest.
“I hope we don’t come near to this,” Reich wrote, expressing concern over the escalating situation. “I hope the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, stop Trump’s plan. But I believe it is Trump’s plan (the details of which have been worked out by the troika of Vance, Miller, and Vought), and they are implementing it as quickly as they can.”
Reich further emphasized the urgency of the situation, warning that while he did not want to unnecessarily alarm the public, the danger was very real and quickly unfolding. “I don’t want to unduly alarm you, but you need to be aware of this imminent danger,” he added. “It’s unfolding very rapidly.”
Reich’s comments come at a time when the Trump administration has faced increasing criticism for its tactics and rhetoric. The use of National Guard troops and the potential invocation of the Insurrection Act are seen by many as an overreach of executive power, raising concerns about the balance between federal authority and states’ rights.
As tensions continue to rise, the legal and political implications of Trump’s actions remain a central point of debate. Critics argue that the president’s approach could spark further divisions across the country, with some fearing the possible escalation of violence.
The White House has yet to respond to Reich’s claims, but the growing scrutiny of Trump’s strategies and the role of his advisors is likely to intensify as more details emerge.