Senator Wyden Responds to Trump’s Military Plans for Portland

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) made it clear to President Trump that the military presence is not wanted in Portland, Oregon. He publicly rejected Trump’s claims about unrest surrounding the ice facility, sharing a video depicting a calm scene without any riots.

“Trump asserts he is under siege outside the Portland ice facility,” Wyden stated in a post on social media platform X, where he shared a brief clip of the facility. “This is my message to Donald Trump. We don’t need you here. Leave hell from our city,” he added emphatically.

In the comments, another X user posted a different video that seemed to show a more chaotic situation at the facility, although the authenticity of this footage hasn’t been verified.

The protests around the Portland facility have been ongoing throughout the summer but have largely remained peaceful since their peak in early June. Local reports indicate that, unlike past protests, there have been no fatalities this time around, particularly when compared to the unrest seen during the summer of 2020, which resulted in at least one death.

However, on Saturday morning, Trump announced plans to deploy military personnel to Portland, justifying the move by stating it was necessary to protect the city from antifa and other so-called “domestic terrorists.” “At the request of Homeland Security Secretary Christa Noem, I have directed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to provide all the troops necessary for protecting war-stricken Portland,” he wrote in a post.

Trump further expressed his willingness to exercise full power if needed, thanking his followers for their caution regarding the issue.

Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, confirmed to Hill that the Department of Defense is poised to mobilize military personnel in Portland as directed by the President.

DHS Deputy Director Tricia McLaughlin pointed to the recent fatal shooting at a Dallas ice facility, citing it as part of the larger context surrounding the unrest and law enforcement assaults and Noem’s demands.

“We are not going to allow terrorists across the country to attack our law enforcement,” she declared.

The White House was reached for additional comments but has yet to respond.