Troop Deployment to Portland
President Donald Trump said Saturday he will send troops to Portland, Ore., “authorizing Full Force, if necessary” to handle “domestic terrorists” as he expands his controversial deployments to more American cities.
He made the announcement on social media, writing that he was directing the Department of Defense to “provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland.”
Trump said the decision was necessary to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, which he described as “under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists.”
Background on the Decision
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for details on Trump’s announcement, such as a timeline for the deployment or what troops would be involved.
Portland’s mayor, Democrat Keith Wilson, said there was no need for troops in his city. “Our nation has a long memory of acts of oppression, and the president will not find lawlessness or violence here unless he plans to perpetrate it,” he said.
Trump previously threatened to send the National Guard into Chicago but has yet to follow through. A deployment in Memphis, Tenn., is expected soon and will include only about 150 troops, far less than were sent to the District of Columbia for Trump’s crackdown on crime or in Los Angeles in response to immigration protests. Trump also sent Marines to Los Angeles.
Reaction from Local Authorities
There was no immediate response from the Pentagon about whether Trump was referring to a deployment of National Guard troops from Oregon or elsewhere or to active-duty forces.
“There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm,” said Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat.
Portland, population 636,000, was the site of long-running and sometimes violent racial justice protests following George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police in 2020. The Trump administration sent hundreds of agents, including from the U.S. Border Patrol, for the stated purpose of protecting the federal courthouse and other federal property from vandalism.
Current Situation in Portland
Recent protests have been far more muted and focused on the area around the ICE building, located outside the city’s downtown that was the heart of the 2020 protests. The building’s main entrance and ground-floor windows have been boarded up and tagged with graffiti.
Early Saturday, all was quiet outside that building, with no signs of protesters or law enforcement.
Some federal agents have been injured and several protesters have been charged with assault. Some demonstrators also say they’ve been injured. When protesters erected a prop guillotine earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security described it as “unhinged behavior.”
Breaking News
Recovery Efforts in Portland
Meantime, city groups and officials have sought to highlight the recovery of the downtown area since 2020.
This summer was reportedly the busiest for pedestrian traffic since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and overall violent crime in Portland from January through June decreased by 17% compared to the same period in 2024, a recent report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association found. The downtown has seen a decrease in homeless encampments that defined the years immediately after the pandemic.
Trump’s Efforts to Confront the “Radical Left”
Since the Sept. 10 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Republican president has escalated his efforts to confront what he calls the “radical left,” which he blames for the country’s problems with political violence.
Trump, in comments Thursday in the Oval Office, suggested some kind of operation was in 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 said, describing them as “professional agitators and anarchists.”
Conclusion
The decision to send troops to Portland has been met with criticism from local authorities, who argue that there is no need for military intervention in the city. The situation in Portland is complex, with a history of protests and violence, but also with efforts to recover and rebuild the downtown area. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the deployment of troops will affect the city and its residents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is President Trump sending troops to Portland?
A: President Trump has stated that the decision is necessary to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, which he describes as “under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists.”
Q: What is the current situation in Portland?
A: Recent protests have been far more muted and focused on the area around the ICE building, with some federal agents injured and several protesters charged with assault. The city has also seen a decrease in homeless encampments and a recovery of the downtown area since 2020.
Q: How have local authorities responded to the decision?
A: Portland’s mayor, Democrat Keith Wilson, has stated that there is no need for troops in the city, and Gov. Tina Kotek has said that there is no national security threat in Portland. The White House has not provided details on the deployment, including a timeline or what troops will be involved.
