On Saturday, Donald Trump declared that he was sending troops to Portland, Oregon. He called the city “War ravaged” and said he was authorizing “full force” if needed.
Trump posted the order on Truth Social. He wrote that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would “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.” He claimed the order came after a request from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
“I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary,” Trump added.
Trump’s order comes just days after a shooting at an ICE field office in Dallas, where one detainee was killed and two others wounded. His allies pointed to the attack as proof of what they called left-wing terrorism.
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Stephen Miller, now serving as deputy chief of staff, wrote on X, “We are witnessing domestic terrorist sedition against the federal government.” He said the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force had been dispatched to confront it.
We are witnessing domestic terrorist sedition against the federal government.
The JTTF has been dispatched by the Attorney General, pursuant to NSPM-7.
All necessary resources will be utilized.
— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) September 27, 2025
Attorney General Pam Bondi also announced new deployments. “At my direction, I am deploying DOJ agents to ICE facilities—and wherever ICE comes under siege—to safeguard federal agents, protect federal property, and immediately arrest all individuals engaged in any federal crime,” she wrote.
But city leaders in the Northwest rejected Trump’s order. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said he had spoken to Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and they stood united. “Trump’s threats against American cities are illegal, authoritarian, and an attempt to silence free speech and intimidate the American people,” Harrell wrote.
I have spoken to Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and offered my support and Seattle’s collective support. Trump’s threats against American cities are illegal, authoritarian, and an attempt to silence free speech and intimidate the American people. We stand united.
— Mayor Bruce Harrell (@MayorofSeattle) September 27, 2025
Wilson told reporters on Friday that Portland never asked for federal troops. “We did not ask for them to come. They are here without precedent or purpose,” he said. “We have seen how their presence harms commerce and prosperity and opportunity in other cities like Washington, D.C.”
At the same event, Sen. Jeff Merkley urged residents to avoid confrontation. “We are not going to take the bait,” he said. “It’s best done at a distance from these federal troops.”
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek added her voice, calling Trump’s decision “inconceivable.” She said sending in soldiers would not solve the real concerns facing her state.
Trump, however, insisted Portland was out of control. In the Oval Office last week he said, “It’s anarchy out there. Many people have died over the years in Portland. We’re going to stop that very soon.”
He even claimed he did not know how anyone could live there. Yet the Pentagon said it was not aware of any new orders. Officials told NBC News they had no details on the size, scope, or timing of any troop deployment.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell issued a short statement: “We stand ready to mobilize U.S. military personnel in support of DHS operations in Portland at the President’s direction.”
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
