US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that he has ordered the deployment of federal troops to Portland, Oregon, and to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities across the country. He said the move was necessary to counter what he described as threats from “domestic terrorists,” authorizing the use of “full force, if necessary.”
In a statement posted on his Truth Social account, Trump said: “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.”
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has not issued a statement in response to Trump’s order. However, speaking at a press conference on Friday, he criticized the earlier deployment of federal officers to the city, saying that it was not requested by local authorities and amounted to government overreach. Wilson argued that such moves created distractions rather than addressing the real issues facing the city.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Portland, calling it “war-ravaged,” and accused local officials of failing to maintain order. On Thursday, he claimed that “crazy people” and “professional agitators” were attempting to burn buildings in the city, though he provided no evidence to support his assertions.
Crime and law enforcement have been central themes of Trump’s administration. Despite national statistics showing that violent crime rates have declined in many American cities, Trump has continued to portray Democratic-led municipalities as unsafe and mismanaged.
His aggressive stance has raised legal questions about the federal government’s role in local policing and has sparked protests in cities where federal agents have been deployed.
The latest order signals an escalation in Trump’s law-and-order agenda, drawing sharp criticism from opponents while energizing his base.
