President Donald Trump has announced his intention to direct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy additional troops to Portland, Oregon, citing the need for protection against what he describes as a war-torn city under siege from domestic terrorists.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that the troops would safeguard Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, which he alleges are facing attacks from Antifa and other groups.
Moreover, he suggested he is prepared to authorize ‘Full Force, if necessary,’ although he did not clarify the implications of this statement.
Trump has not been shy about expressing his concerns regarding the situation in Portland, recently labeling it as chaotic and stating, ‘You go out to Portland, people die out there.’
During remarks made in the Oval Office, he asserted the city is experiencing anarchy and emphasized, ‘It’s amazing, but it’s, it’s anarchy out there. That’s what they want. They want anarchy.’
The president’s disapproval of Portland was further echoed in another Oval Office address where he remarked that residents in the city are ‘out of control.’
‘If you take a look what’s happening in Portland,’ he continued, ‘it’s been going on for years. Just people out of control, crazy. We’re going to stop that very soon.’
In response to Trump’s announcement on Truth Social, Pentagon officials expressed surprise, stating they were unaware of any new orders to send troops to Portland.
An NBC News report indicated that Pentagon officials lacked immediate details about any planned military operations, including the scale of deployment or whether it would involve National Guard or active-duty forces.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell assured that the department is prepared to mobilize military personnel to support Department of Homeland Security operations in Portland if the President directs such actions and noted that further information would be provided as it becomes available.
This announcement comes on the heels of a violent incident in Dallas where a gunman opened fire at the agency’s field office, resulting in casualties and heightened concerns regarding safety.
Local leaders in Portland urged residents to remain composed in anticipation of a federal law enforcement surge targeting an ICE facility in the vicinity.
Mayor Keith Wilson expressed disappointment regarding the federal response, stating, ‘We did not ask for them to come. They are here without precedent or purpose.’
He mentioned the negative effects of troop presence on commerce and community prosperity, drawing parallels to other cities such as Washington, D.C.
Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon also addressed the community, advising citizens to steer clear of confrontations with federal agents.
‘We are not going to take the bait,’ he stated, affirming that while expressing opinions and protests is permissible, it is best conducted from a distance.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek spoke out against Trump’s insistence on deploying federal troops, arguing that it does not address the true issues present in the city.
Kotek referred to Portland as a vibrant, thriving community and recounted her conversation with Trump, where she disputed his characterization of the city as insurrectional, saying, ‘He thinks there are elements here creating an insurrection. I told him there is no insurrection here and that we have this under control.’
She also mentioned that Trump did not provide a specific timeline for troop deployment and expressed skepticism regarding his authority to send federal troops to Oregon, indicating that she is coordinating a potential response with the state’s attorney general.
During a press briefing, Mayor Wilson announced his intention to sign a joint statement of values with other regional mayors, emphasizing the need for unity rather than an occupancy of troops.
‘That’s what we need right now,’ he remarked, ‘not occupying troops.’
Throughout his presidency, Trump has consistently voiced criticism of cities governed by Democratic leaders, labeling Portland an ‘anarchist jurisdiction’ and threatening to deploy federal law enforcement to various major cities across the country, including Chicago, Baltimore, and New Orleans.
These threats have faced backlash from Democratic leaders in several states, reflecting wider tensions between local and federal governance.
Earlier this month, Trump approved the formation of a task force to mobilize National Guard troops and federal law enforcement in Memphis, a move supported by Tennessee’s Republican governor.
Trump had also authorized the deployment of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement to Washington, D.C., in August, where local officials noted that while crime reduced, the ongoing presence of agents and troops was proving ineffective.
This led Washington to initiate a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging an illegal deployment of National Guard troops within the city.
As the situation unfolds, the dynamics between federal authority and local governance remain a critical point of contention in Portland and other affected cities across the United States.
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