US President Donald Trump announced Saturday, September 27, he is directing the Department of Defense to send “all necessary Troops” to Portland, Oregon, a city he described as “war ravaged,” to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities which he claims are “under siege” by Antifa and “other domestic terrorists.”
In a social media post, Trump stated, “At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops… I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”
The White House provided no immediate clarification on what “full force” entails or which military units would be deployed. In a follow-up statement, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the action, citing “weeks of violent riots at ICE facilities” and promising that the administration “will not allow Antifa domestic terrorists to deter us.”
The decision was immediately met with forceful opposition from Oregon’s state and local officials, who accused the President of escalating conflict for political gain. Governor Tina Kotek stated on social media that her office had not been notified, writing, “There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm.”
Mayor Keith Wilson issued a statement saying there is no need for troops, adding that the President “will not find lawlessness or violence here unless he plans to perpetrate it.” U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley also condemned the move, asserting that the President “has sent agents here to create chaos and riots here in Portland, to induce a reaction.”
This is the latest in a series of extraordinary deployments of federal personnel by the Trump administration.
The ICE facility, located about two miles south of downtown Portland, has been the site of near-constant protests this summer, though most demonstrations have been peaceful. The announcement also follows a recent fatal shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas.
Earlier this month, President Trump officially designated Antifa, the loose collective of left-wing anti-fascist activists—as a “major terrorist organization,” setting the stage for increased federal action in cities where the group is active.
