On Saturday morning, President Trump announced that he would be deploying US troops to Portland to safeguard both the city and the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities from groups like ANTIFA, which he referred to as “domestic terrorists.”
“Following a request from Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem, I’m directing Secretary of War Pete Hegses to deploy the necessary troops to protect Portland,” he posted. “This is what a true society looks like.”
He further stated, “I will grant full authority if needed. I appreciate the caution surrounding this matter!”
The Hill has reached out for additional comments from the Department of Homeland Security regarding this situation.
This week, Trump officially classified ANTIFA as a domestic terrorist organization. This designation allows the government to broadly investigate the activities of this anti-fascist movement, especially in circumstances where ANTIFA members provide “material support.”
According to an order signed by the White House on Monday, “Individuals linked to ANTIFA may further coordinate with other organizations to spread political violence and stifle legitimate political speech.”
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) remarked late Friday that federal agents indicated a potential escalation in Portland aimed at repeating the violent scenarios from 2020. He noted he had been in “close” communication with local state authorities.
“Portland is a peaceful city that does not need federal forces on its streets. We encourage Oregonians to resist Trump’s attempts to provoke violence,” Wyden emphasized. “We are working with our delegations and state officials to contest the unjust increase in federal forces, as we did in 2020.”
Trump’s announcement signifies a further extension of his military deployment strategy in US cities. Earlier in August, he dispatched members of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., to tackle crime in the capital.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) indicated on Friday that federal forces, including National Guard members, are set to arrive in Memphis as soon as next week.
This story is ongoing and will be updated as new information becomes available.
