Portland Mayor Keith Wilson reacted on Saturday to President Donald Trump’s intention to send federal troops to the city, asserting that there is no lawlessness or violence requiring such action.
Trump had announced earlier that morning that troops would be sent to Portland in response to a request from the Department of Homeland Security. He instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegses to ensure that “all the troops needed to protect war-torn Portland” would be dispatched, framing the situation as one requiring strong intervention against what he termed domestic terrorists.
In a press conference just hours later, Wilson claimed that the need for troops in Portland is “zero.” He emphasized that the city is, in his view, not a military target.
“This is an American city. No intervention is required,” he stated. Wilson further contended that any video evidence of violence has been “recycled” over the years and does not accurately represent the current state of affairs.
If Trump were to visit, Wilson suggested he would instead find “people riding bikes, playing sports, enjoying the sunshine,” and engaging in normal daily activities like grocery shopping. He noted how much work the community has put into reforming public safety systems and supporting vulnerable populations.
Protests around Portland’s ICE facility have surged since June, with city officials pointing to various land use violations. This facility has been marred with graffiti, and the protests have turned violent at times, with clashes involving rubber bullets and tear gas.
Wilson suggested to the president that instead of deploying troops, it might be more beneficial to send engineers or outreach workers to address homelessness and community needs rather than staging a military presence.
He expressed disappointment with the federal government’s actions, implying that military intervention would be more of a spectacle than a solution. “This might be a show of power, but that’s it,” he said, advocating for peaceful protests instead.
Wilson mentioned the evolving risks posed by the current administration’s approaches, emphasizing a lack of clarity about what full power means in this context.
While Trump indicated that he would send the necessary troops to safeguard the city and its ICE facilities, he did not clarify that this would involve the entire focus on Portland and its residents.
Portland, recognized as a sanctuary city since 2017, has maintained resistance to federal immigration enforcement policies. Recently, Attorney General Pam Bondy warned Wilson that the city’s sanctuary policy could conflict with U.S. interests, reinforcing the need to comply with federal laws affecting immigration enforcement.
As of now, the City of Portland has not provided any comment regarding these developments.
