Trump Announces Deployment of Troops to Portland, Oregon: What It Means for the City – NPR

WASHINGTON – On Saturday, President Donald Trump declared his intention to dispatch federal forces to Portland, Oregon, authorizing the use of “full force if necessary” to confront what he labels as “domestic terrorists,” marking an expansion of his contentious strategy to deploy troops in various U.S. cities.

The president shared this decision via social media, instructing the Department of Defense to “deploy all necessary troops to safeguard the war-torn city of Portland.”

Trump justified the move by emphasizing the need to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, which he claims have been “under siege by Antifa and other domestic terrorist groups.”

Following the tragic killing of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, Trump has intensified his campaign against what he terms the “radical left,” whom he holds responsible for escalating political unrest and violence nationwide.

Earlier this year, the president sent National Guard units and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles amid civil unrest and also took control of law enforcement operations in Washington, D.C.

The ICE center in Portland has frequently been the focal point of protests, some of which have escalated into violent confrontations. Federal officers have sustained injuries, and multiple demonstrators face assault charges. Notably, when protesters constructed a guillotine replica recently, the Department of Homeland Security condemned it as “extreme and dangerous behavior.”

During a recent Oval Office briefing, Trump hinted at an imminent operation, stating, “We’re going to take significant action against those in Portland, who are professional agitators and anarchists.”

Earlier this month, the president described life in Portland as “akin to living in a nightmare” and reiterated his consideration of deploying federal troops to quell unrest, similar to his threats aimed at cities like Chicago and Baltimore.

Portland’s mayor, Keith Wilson, responded to the president’s announcement by asserting, “Like many other city leaders, I have neither requested nor require federal intervention.” He emphasized that the city has balanced protecting free speech with managing sporadic violence and property damage.

Meanwhile, in Tennessee, the city of Memphis is preparing for an increased presence of National Guard forces. On Friday, Republican Governor Bill Lee confirmed that these troops will be part of a broader initiative to enhance public safety and combat crime in the area.