Insurrection Act: What to know as Trump talks using law after National Guard deployment pushback

President Donald Trump suggested numerous times this week that he could invoke the sweeping presidential powers granted by the Insurrection Act "if necessary.""It's been invoked before," Trump told reporters Tuesday, adding, "We want safe cities."Using the Insurrection Act was something Trump repeatedly suggested he might do in his first term, although he never actually did

President Donald Trump suggested numerous times this week that he could invoke the sweeping presidential powers granted by the Insurrection Act "if necessary."

"It's been invoked before," Trump told reporters Tuesday, adding, "We want safe cities."

Using the Insurrection Act was something Trump repeatedly suggested he might do in his first term, although he never actually did.

A spokeswoman for the White House, Abigail Jackson, said in a statement Tuesday that the president has "exercised his lawful authority to protect federal officers and assets. President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities.”

Here's a look at what the Insurrection Act is, and what it would enable the president to do.