A viral TikTok video, viewed by more than 2.5 million users, has sparked speculation that Donald Trump could declare martial law on April 20 – a date known for being Adolf Hitler’s birthday.
Echoed by other creators, the claim suggests the US president is plotting an authoritarian move under the guise of national emergency.
The declaration of martial law is a rare for a civilian government to make and for good reason – if it happens, civilian control of some or all aspects of government operations is ceded to the military.
But is there any basis to the claim?
Like many theories that gain traction on social media, this one hinges on circumstantial timing and a healthy dose of fear.
Where does the claim originate from?
Financial expert Steve Siebold, who has more than 113,000 followers on TikTok and another 7,813 on Instagram, was one of the first people to draw attention to the speculation.
Siebold, who has previously been interviewed by CNBC and Good Morning Texas about the stock market, said: ‘There are rumblings all over the media that on April 20 Trump will declare martial law.
‘This effectively means that the military takes over from the police.
‘Free speech becomes illegal, protests become illegal; you have to have the permission of the military to do anything.
‘Worse than that, the commander in chief, Trump, can do basically anything he wants.
‘We may be looking at the end of American democracy and we have only 13 days left.’
Siebold urged fellow Americans to ‘prepare for the worst, bury their guns in the back yard, stock up on food and stop spending money’.
‘You have 13 days to prepare, please be ready,’ he warned.
He shared the video after attending a ‘Hands Off’ protest in his hometown of Gainesville, Georgia, where he was pictured with a sign that read ‘Trump is America’s Hitler’.
Why would Trump declare martial law?
Dozens such demonstrations – in the US and across major European cities – were seen over the weekend in a show of defiance against Trump.
Martial law may be ordered to reign in protests or civil unrest, so this could be one way that his administration may try to curb free speech.
Illegal immigration and border security are cornerstones of his agenda, so this could be done to accelerate the detention and deportation of people.
Trump already declared a national emergency at the US-Mexico border on his first day back in the White House, arguing that it is ‘overrun by cartels, criminal gangs, known terrorists, human traffickers, smugglers, unvetted military-age males from foreign adversaries’.
He called it ‘an invasion’ that has caused widespread chaos and suffering in the country during Joe Biden’s presidency.
April 20 is the date when the secretary of defence and the secretary of Homeland Security are expected to submit a joint report to the president about the conditions at the southern border.
The report is set to offer ‘recommendations regarding additional actions that may be necessary to obtain complete operational control of the southern border, including whether to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807.’
Ahead of the report, there are also claims that the Trump administration is reportedly considering launching drone strikes on drug cartels in Mexico as part of effort to combat criminal groups trafficking narcotics across the southern border.
This also comes after a US Navy destroyer that fought off missiles in the Red Sea against Yemen’s Houthis was deployed to guard the southern border.
It is the latest military asset to be deployed as part of Trump’s security efforts.
What is the difference between the Insurrection Act and martial law?
The Insurrection Act and martial law are related – but not the same thing.
The 1807 Act allows the president to deploy the military within the country to suppress civil disorder, insurrection, or rebellion.
Historically, it has been invoked during major unrest – like the 1992 LA riots or the desegregation protests in the 1950s and 1960s.
Civilian authorities remain in control, but the military is temporarily used to restore order.
In contrast, martial law is a much broader concept where the military takes over normal civilian functions – including law enforcement, courts and governance.
It is typically used only in war, rebellion, or a total collapse of civil authority.
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