Trump says he plans to send troops to Portland, Oregon to handle “domestic terrorists”

President Trump said Saturday on Truth Social that he will send troops to Portland, Oregon, to handle “domestic terrorists” as his deployments expand to more cities across the U.S.

“At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists. I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”

In a statement to CBS News, Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said U.S. military personnel stand ready to mobilize in support of Department of Homeland Security operations in Portland at Mr. Trump’s direction.

“The Department will provide information and updates as they become available,” Parnell said.

No other information regarding the size or the timing of the deployment of troops has been released. CBS News has reached out to the U.S. Northern Command and the National Guard Bureau for more details.

Since the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the president has escalated his efforts to confront what he calls the “radical left,” which he blames for the country’s problems with political violence.

He deployed the National Guard and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles over the summer and as part of his law enforcement takeover in the District of Columbia.

The ICE facility in Portland has been the target of frequent demonstrations, sometimes leading to violent clashes. Some federal agents have been injured and several protesters have been charged with assault. When protesters erected a guillotine earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security described it as “unhinged behavior.”

Mr. Trump, in comments Thursday in the Oval Office, suggested some kind of operation was in the works.

“We’re going to get out there and we’re going to do a pretty big number on those people in Portland,” he said, describing them as “professional agitators and anarchists.”

On Saturday, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson responded to Mr. Trump, saying that the “number of necessary troops is zero, in Portland and any other American city.”

“Our nation has a long memory for acts of oppression, and the president will not find lawlessness or violence here unless he plans to perpetrate it. Imagine if the federal government sent hundreds of engineers, or teachers, or outreach workers to Portland, instead of a short, expensive, and fruitless show of force,” Wilson said.

Gov. Tina Kotek also responded to Mr. Trump, saying her office is reaching out to the White House and Homeland Security to find out more information.

“We have been provided no information on the reason or purpose of any military mission. There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm. I ask Oregonians to stay calm and enjoy a beautiful fall day. We will have further comment when we have more information,” Kotek said.

Both Democratic senators representing Oregon on Saturday criticized the president’s plans as “authoritarian,” saying Portland is a peaceful city.

“Trump is sending troops to Portland with the goal of ‘doing a number’ on the city. We know what this means. He wants to stoke fear and chaos and trigger violent interactions and riots to justify expanded authoritarian control,” Sen. Jeff Merkley said in a video posted to social media. “Let’s not take the bait.”

Sen. Ron Wyden wrote, “Trump is launching an authoritarian takeover of Portland hoping to provoke conflict in my hometown.”

“I urge Oregonians to reject Trump’s attempt to incite violence in what we know is a vibrant and peaceful city. I will do everything in my power to protect the people in our state,” Wyden said on X.

Wyden later Saturday posted a video to X that he said was just taken outside an ICE facility in Portland, and showed no protesters. 

“Taken just a few minutes ago outside the ICE facility in Portland that Trump claims is under siege,” Wyden wrote. “My message to Donald Trump is this: we don’t need you here. Stay the hell out of our city.”

Earlier in September, Mr. Trump had described living in Portland as “like living in hell” and said he was considering sending in federal troops, as he has recently threatened to do to combat crime in other cities, including Chicago and Baltimore.

“Like other mayors across the country, I have not asked for -– and do not need -– federal intervention,” Portland’s mayor, Keith Wilson, said in a statement after Trump’s threat. Wilson said his city had protected freedom of expression while “addressing occasional violence and property destruction.”

Memphis, Tennessee, has been bracing for a potential influx of National Guard troops, and on Friday Republican Gov. Bill Lee said they will be part of a surge of resources to fight crime in the city. The governor said troops are set to arrive next week.

Eleanor Watson

contributed to this report.

More from CBS News

Source link