President Donald Trump said on Saturday he is expanding his military interventions in US cities, this time by ordering troops to be deployed to Portland, Oregon.
He instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide as many soldiers as “necessary” to protect the city and any Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities threatened by “domestic terrorists,” he wrote on the platform Truth Social.
As an example, he cited the far-left anti-fascism movement Antifa, which he recently designated a “domestic terrorist organization.”
Trump described Portland, which is widely known for its progressive political values, as “war ravaged.”
The Republican wrote that he is granting the military broad authority to use “full force,” though it remains unclear what that entails. He also did not specify what types of troops will be deployed.
The Democratic governor of Oregon, Tina Kotek, wrote on X that her office was contacting the White House and Department of Homeland Security for further information.
She said the state had not been informed of the reason for a military deployment, adding: “There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm.”
Oregon’s Democratic Senator Ron Wyden issued even harsher criticism in his post on X.
“Trump is launching an authoritarian takeover of Portland hoping to provoke conflict in my hometown,” he wrote. “I urge Oregonians to reject Trump’s attempt to incite violence in what we know is a vibrant and peaceful city.”
Portland describes itself as a “sanctuary city,” meaning it limits its cooperation with ICE.
Last week, the city announced that it would investigate whether an ICE facility in Portland was violating regulations by holding people for longer than allowed.
In a statement on Friday about alleged violence by Antifa supporters, the Department of Homeland Security mentioned rioters in Portland who had repeatedly attacked an ICE facility, listing several incidents that allegedly took place in June.
According to US media reports, there have been several protests in the city around an ICE facility, directed at Trump’s controversial immigration policy.
The president sent soldiers to Los Angeles in June. His administration justified their deployment, along with that of the National Guard, in part by citing alleged chaos and resistance against ICE agents, whose operations against undocumented immigrants have frequently sparked public protests.
Trump has also deployed National Guard troops to Washington and announced plans for a deployment in Memphis, Tennessee. He has repeatedly threatened to send the National Guard to Chicago as well.
National Guard members are not full-time active duty military personnel, but a part of the Army that can be deployed by the federal government or by a governor, often to help with disasters in states.
Use of the troops to help carry out domestic law enforcement operations, which Trump has pushed for as part of his crackdown on crime, is unusual and highly controversial.
Opponents argue that Trump’s military tactics stoke fear and trample the jurisdiction of states and cities.