President Trump stated Saturday on Fact Social that he’ll ship troops to Portland, Oregon, to deal with “domestic terrorists” as his deployments develop to extra cities throughout the U.S.
“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. I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”
“The Department will provide information and updates as they become available,” Parnell stated.
Because the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the president has escalated his efforts to confront what he calls the “radical left,” which he blames for the nation’s issues with political violence.
He deployed the Nationwide Guard and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles over the summer time and as a part of his regulation enforcement takeover within the District of Columbia.
FILE – A lady stands off with a regulation enforcement officer sporting a Houston Area Workplace Particular Response Group patch outdoors the U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) constructing throughout a protest Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Portland, Ore.
Jenny Kane / AP
The ICE facility in Portland has been the goal of frequent demonstrations, typically resulting in violent clashes. Some federal brokers have been injured and several other protesters have been charged with assault. When protesters erected a guillotine earlier this month, the Division of Homeland Safety described it as “unhinged behavior.”
Mr. Trump, in feedback Thursday within the Oval Workplace, steered some form of operation was within the works.
“We’re going to get out there and we’re going to do a pretty big number on those people in Portland,” he stated, describing them as “professional agitators and anarchists.”
FILE – The “Portland, Oregon” signal is seen atop in constructing in downtown Portland, Ore., Jan. 27, 2015.
Don Ryan / AP
On Saturday, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson responded to Mr. Trump, saying that the “number of necessary troops is zero, in Portland and any other American city.”
“Our nation has a long memory for acts of oppression, and the president will not find lawlessness or violence here unless he plans to perpetrate it. Imagine if the federal government sent hundreds of engineers, or teachers, or outreach workers to Portland, instead of a short, expensive, and fruitless show of force,” Wilson stated.
Gov. Tina Kotek additionally responded to Mr. Trump, saying her workplace is reaching out to the White Home and Homeland Safety to seek out out extra data.
“We have been provided no information on the reason or purpose of any military mission. There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm. I ask Oregonians to stay calm and enjoy a beautiful fall day. We will have further comment when we have more information,” Kotek stated.
Each Democratic senators representing Oregon on Saturday criticized the president’s plans as “authoritarian,” saying Portland is a peaceable metropolis.
“Trump is sending troops to Portland with the goal of ‘doing a number’ on the city. We know what this means. He wants to stoke fear and chaos and trigger violent interactions and riots to justify expanded authoritarian control,” Sen. Jeff Merkley stated in a video posted to social media. “Let’s not take the bait.”
Sen. Ron Wyden wrote, “Trump is launching an authoritarian takeover of Portland hoping to provoke conflict in my hometown.”
“I urge Oregonians to reject Trump’s attempt to incite violence in what we know is a vibrant and peaceful city. I will do everything in my power to protect the people in our state,” Wyden stated on X.
Wyden later Saturday posted a video to X that he stated was simply taken outdoors an ICE facility in Portland, and confirmed no protesters.
“Taken just a few minutes ago outside the ICE facility in Portland that Trump claims is under siege,” Wyden wrote. “My message to Donald Trump is this: we don’t need you here. Stay the hell out of our city.”
Earlier in September, Mr. Trump had described dwelling in Portland as “like living in hell” and stated he was contemplating sending in federal troops, as he has lately threatened to do to fight crime in different cities, together with Chicago and Baltimore.
“Like other mayors across the country, I have not asked for -– and do not need -– federal intervention,” Portland’s mayor, Keith Wilson, stated in an announcement after Trump’s risk. Wilson stated his metropolis had protected freedom of expression whereas “addressing occasional violence and property destruction.”
Memphis, Tennessee, has been bracing for a possible inflow of Nationwide Guard troops, and on Friday Republican Gov. Invoice Lee stated they are going to be a part of a surge of assets to battle crime within the metropolis. The governor stated troops are set to reach subsequent week.
Eleanor Watson
contributed to this report.
Extra from CBS Information
