President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he will send troops to Portland, Oregon, to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, which he claimed are “under siege” by Antifa and “other domestic terrorists.” “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,” Trump said in a social media post. The White House declined to elaborate when contacted for clarification on what “full force” entails or which troops would be deployed. A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, claimed the action was in response to “weeks of violent riots at ICE facilities” and attacks against law enforcement. “We will not allow Antifa domestic terrorists to deter us in our mission to make America safe, and those who try will be held accountable,” she said. This marks another instance of Trump using federal forces in domestic matters. He previously deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and has threatened similar actions in cities like Baltimore and Chicago. McLaughlin also claimed in a Fox News interview that some protesters are “highly organized” and being paid—though no evidence has been presented to support that claim. “Whether it be in Portland, whether it be in Chicago or otherwise, we will bring the resources we need to make sure that Americans are safe,” she added. Local Leaders Push Back State and local officials condemned the move and called for calm. At a Friday night press conference, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, U.S. Representative Maxine Dexter, and City Council members urged non-violence. “The president has sent agents here to create chaos and riots… His goal is to make Portland look as he describes it,” Merkley said. “Our job is to say, ‘We are not going to take the bait.’” Mayor Wilson stated there is “no need to send troops,” adding, “He 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 wrote. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said her office had not been notified of the deployment and later confirmed speaking with Trump and Noem to express that Oregon can manage its own public safety. Context and Tensions The announcement follows a shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas, where a gunman reportedly targeted ICE personnel, killing one detainee and injuring two others. An ICE facility in Portland, located two miles south of downtown, has been the focus of near-constant protests over the summer. While most demonstrations have been peaceful, some have involved tear gas and temporary facility closures. Trump previously forecast action in Portland, accusing protesters of being “professional agitators and anarchists” who are paid “a lot of money” to incite chaos. “We’re going to do a pretty big number on those people in Portland,” Trump said. Earlier this month, Trump designated Antifa as a “major terrorist organization,” focusing much of the rhetoric on Portland, known as a longstanding hub for Antifa-related activity. Federal law enforcement was previously deployed to Portland in 2020 during Trump’s first term in response to George Floyd-related protests. “I’m going to look at it now, because I didn’t know that was still going on. This has been going on for years,” Trump said earlier this month.
