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President Donald Trump has authorized the use of troops to protect Portland, Oregon, and any Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities that are “under siege from attack by Antifa.”
The President took to Truth Social on Saturday morning to announce the action, which came at the request of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Portland politicians claim that the city is peaceful and that the president and his troops are not welcome.
Be informed, not misled.
Trump posted this: “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."
He emphasized that he is “authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”
Trump designated Antifa a terrorist organization on Monday with an executive order on the heels of the assassination of Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk on September 10.
During an executive order signing event on Thursday, Vice President JD Vance highlighted a violent anti-ICE riot in Portland over the Summer that led to the siege of an ICE building.
“I believe it was in Oregon where you had a federal building where there were men in black ski masks who were committing acts of violence, who were shutting down a government building,” Vance said.
“These are paid people. This is organized,” Vance added. “They’re committing acts of political terrorism on American soil, and it’s time we had a government that looked out for the American people rather than the people who are committing violence against the American people.”
“These are crazy people, and they’re trying to burn down buildings, including federal buildings,” Trump said
Trump indicated that the federal government would soon step in to restore order in Portland.
The president's complete post:
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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
While Hegseth is executing the President's orders, the local Leftist politicians are claiming there is no need for all the fuss. "Portland is a quiet, peaceful city."
The awakening of the Left.
Oregon’s Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced yesterday (Sunday) that the state has filed a lawsuit to block President Donald Trump from deploying the National Guard to Portland, a day after Trump authorized federal troops to protect what he called “war-ravaged Portland.”
Gov. Kotek called it a “sad day for Oregon,” saying she was disturbed that the Trump administration was not listening to the people of the state.
Senator Ron Wyden responded with this: "I urge Oregonians to reject Trump's attempt to incite violence in what we know as a vibrant and peaceful city."
It would only be the closely knit Leftist crowd in Portland who would believe Portland is "vibrant and peaceful."
Trump may indeed be listening to the "people of the state." He, however, does not believe what the Leftist leadership based mostly in Portland is saying.
The New York Times published these thoughts: "In some ways, Portland is an obvious exemplar of what Mr. Trump argues is wrong with liberalism in the United States."
The city has a long history of political protest, a large and active L.G.T.B.Q. community and a legislative penchant for tweaking the federal government in the name of home rule, including municipal laws that limit how much the city’s police can cooperate with federal antiterrorism efforts and immigration enforcement.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a former Oregon congresswoman who is now labor secretary, described Portland as a “crime-ridden war zone.”
Many agree.
“The version of Portland described by the president is simply not, as anyone here can see, reality,” said Mayor Keith Wilson. “People are enjoying the great outdoors this weekend. They’re attending sporting events. They’re shopping, they’re eating outside.”
Mayor Keith Wilson is blind. So is the governor.
Protests have flared in the city since June, and city officials put a land use violation notice on an ICE facility to dispute how long detainees can be held there, as well as another violation for boarded-up windows.
Anti-ICE graffiti has been scrawled on the outside of the building, and the demonstrations have become violent at times between protesters and federal agents, prompting authorities to use rubber bullets, tear gas, and flash bangs to break up the crowds.
Protesters in August were also caught on camera displaying a guillotine and clashing with police before law enforcement fired munitions to get the crowd to disperse.
Portland has been declared a sanctuary city since 2017, which means it largely does not comply with federal immigration enforcement activities. Blue cities have become flash points amid Trump's immigration crackdown, including when troops were sent into Los Angeles during anti-ICE protests in June, and the clash with New Jersey Democrats and authorities outside Delaney Hall in Newark in May.
Takeaway
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and MayorWilson responded to the announcement on Saturday.
"My office is reaching out to the White House and Homeland Security for more information. 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.
"President Trump has directed 'all necessary Troops' to Portland, Oregon. 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.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Bold. Be Prayerful.
