(The Hill) – President Trump said on Saturday morning that he is sending U.S. troops to Portland to “protect” the city and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities from 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,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social.
“I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary,” Trump added. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The Hill has reached out to the Defense Department and Department of Homeland Security for further comment.
Earlier this week, Trump signed an order formally designating antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, giving the U.S. government a broad mandate to probe the anti-fascist movement’s operations or any instances where an antifa member “provided material support.”
“Individuals associated with and acting on behalf of Antifa further coordinate with other organizations and entities for the purpose of spreading, fomenting, and advancing political violence and suppressing lawful political speech,” the White House said in the order that Trump signed on Monday.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said late Friday that there were “credible” reports that federal agents “may be replaying the 2020 playbook and surging into Portland with the goal of provoking conflict and violence in my hometown,” adding that he was in “close” contact with local state officials.
“Portland is a peaceful, vibrant city with no need for federal agents on our streets. I urge Oregonians not to fall into Trump’s attempt to incite violence,” Wyden said. “Just as I did in 2020, I will lead our delegation and state officials to oppose any unjustified increase in federal forces.”
Saturday’s announcement marks the further expansion of the president’s deployment of troops in U.S. cities around the country. In early August, Trump deployed National Guard members to Washington, D.C., as part of the administration’s effort to combat crime in the nation’s capital.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) said on Friday that federal forces, including the National Guard members, will begin arriving in Memphis as early as next week.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who served one term in the House representing Oregon’s 5th congressional district, welcomed Trump’s decision to send troops to the Beaver State, saying she has seen how “lawlessness” has turned Portland into a “crime-ridden war zone.”
“I’ve seen firsthand how lawlessness has transformed Portland from a beautiful place to live to a crime-ridden war zone,” Chavez-DeRemer said in a Saturday post on X. “Thank you, @POTUS, for taking action to keep our ICE facilities protected and Make America Safe Again!”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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