Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he ordered federal troops to Portland. The largest city in Oregon will become the next Democratic-led city the US president deployed the National Guard to, though it will likely be subject to legal challenges. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said in a statement the day before that the city does not need federal intervention after Trump hinted at the plans during a press conference.
“At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The president added: “I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Mr Trump said on Friday that he was not originally considering Portland, but a report released the day before on anti-ICE protests changed his mind. He also targeted the city during his first term as president.
The new report contained an incident of a resident near an ICE building issuing noise complaints over protests.
“Portland, it’s unbelievable what’s going on in Portland,” Mr Trump said Friday.
Revealing his intentions to send troops, he added: “The destruction of the city. I’m going to look at it now. We’ll be able to stop that very easily.”
Protestors have sprayed graffiti and verbally insulted officers, leading officials to board up the ICE building since the spring. A number of protesters have been arrested over the course of their unrelenting demonstrations.
Portland Mayor Wilson stood up in defence of the protesters for exercising their rights, while praising the city’s police officers for addressing any incidents that have occurred during demonstrations.
“We are proud that Portland police have successfully protected freedom of expression while addressing occasional violence and property destruction that takes place during protests at the ICE facility in Portland,” Mr Wilson said.
“We anticipate that the site, and the half-block surrounding it, will continue to be a focus of protests. Portland will continue to rise to the moment as a proud sanctuary city, taking legal action to stand up for our community and our rights.”
President Trump similarly deployed federal troops to Los Angeles in June to quell anti-ICE protests amid his mass deportation operation.
The Trump administration is still entangled in legal battles with California’s state government over the situation, as 300 National Guard troops still remain in the California city, according to Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
A federal judge ruled earlier this month that Mr Trump’s military deployment in Los Angeles is illegal. In August, the president sent 2,200 National Guard troops to the nation’s capital.
This week alone, the president threatened to send the troops to Baltimore, Chicago and New Orleans, all of which are also Democratic-led cities.
