Oregon Senator Praises Frog Protesters in Portland
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden recently missed President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address to attend an event for a Democratic rival. During this time, he expressed his support for a group of protesters donning inflatable frog costumes, calling them “patriots” who played a key role in defeating Trump’s crime policies in Portland.
“Hey, frogs are rocking this town,” Wyden remarked on Tuesday evening. “I stand with the frogs and I stand with you, because political change starts at the grassroots.” He went on to note how social media has been brimming with vibrant videos featuring unicycles, naked cyclists, and, of course, a variety of frog-themed antics.
“When Donald Trump sent operatives to Portland, we stood up to authoritarianism, and we won!” Wyden declared proudly.
These frog-wearing activists are part of the Portland Frog Brigade, which aims to exercise free expression through peaceful protest. They advocate for creative dissent to defend the U.S. Constitution and uphold the rule of law, according to their website.
In September, the Trump administration announced plans to send the National Guard to Portland as part of a broader crime-fighting initiative. This move triggered civil unrest and opposition from local officials, including Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, who stated, “Portland is an American city, not a military target.” He added that the number of troops needed in Portland was zero.
Almost immediately, the state initiated a legal challenge against this deployment, arguing that the federal government lacked the authority to send troops into the city. As legal proceedings dragged on, crimes such as murder and kidnapping in Portland experienced a slight monthly decline. From October 2025 to January 2026, crimes against individuals decreased by 18%, while overall crime rates dropped by about 8%.
However, the legal tussles did seem to prompt the Trump administration to scale back troop presence in December. Just last week, the White House announced it would no longer pursue an appeal against a court ruling blocking National Guard deployment in Portland.
A U.S. judge confirmed that Oregon National Guard members were in the process of moving to Fort Bliss, Texas, for demobilization, which is expected to take about a week or so.
Wyden expressed satisfaction with this development, although the White House did not immediately comment on his remarks regarding the withdrawal of the National Guard from Portland.
