President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of U.S. troops to war ravaged Portland, Oregon, authorizing the use of full force if deemed necessary.
In a recent statement on Truth Social, Trump directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to mobilize all available troops to protect Portland, stating they were required to safeguard not only the city but also the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities that have been under attack from groups he labels as Antifa and domestic terrorists.
This announcement signals the Trump administration's continuing trend of expanding troop deployments in urban areas in response to civil unrest, particularly amid its crackdown on illegal immigration.
Local law officials, including Portland's Democrat lawmakers, have previously expressed resistance to such military interventions. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson stated earlier in the month, I have not asked for - and do not need - federal intervention.
Protests targeting the ICE facility in Portland have resulted in violent confrontations, leading to injuries among federal agents. Trump's order did not clarify whether national guard or regular military forces would be activated for this deployment.
Trump hinted at taking action in Portland earlier in the week, describing the situation as like living in hell and indicating a need to combat what he termed professional agitators and anarchists. He has also formally classified antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.
Democratic lawmakers in Oregon have openly criticized Trump's policies and the behavior of ICE agents in their state, arguing that the claimed objectives of federal interventions are not being met in practice.
