Trump also deploys troops to Portland because he says it's "war-torn."
The president argues that the troops are needed to protect immigration facilities, which are "besieged" by "terrorists."
BarcelonaUS President Donald Trump has ordered troops to be deployed to the northwestern city of Portland, which he said was "war-torn." "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-torn Portland and any of our ICE facilities that are under siege from attacks by Antifa and other domestic terrorists," Trump wrote in a post on his website. Trump stressed that he authorizes the use of "full force" if necessary.
This is the fourth troop deployment ordered by the Republican president, after having done so in Los Angeles, Washington DC and Memphis, all Democratic strongholds. The mayor of Portland and the governor of the state of Oregon are also Democrats and had rejected the deployment of the military in the city.
Since the murder of theinfluencer far-right Charlie KirkTrump has intensified his rhetoric against the "radical left," which he blames for rising polarization and political violence. In fact, just days after the attack, the president declared the anti-fascist movement Antifa a terrorist organization.
The decision to send troops to Portland comes after several days of protests outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center, particularly following the designation of Antifa as a terrorist group. Some federal officers were injured, and several protesters were charged with assault. Some protesters also say they have been injured.
According to the Associated Press, the White House has not provided details about Trump's announcement, such as when the deployment will take place or how many troops he will send. Therefore, for now, it is only an announcement on social media without any specifics. Trump, for example, also announced that he would send the National Guard to Chicago, but has not yet done so. It is expected to be deployed to Memphis soon, although only about 150 troops, far fewer than those sent to Los Angeles and Washington.
"How to Live in Hell"
In early September, Trump described living in Portland as “like living in hell” and said he was considering sending federal troops to combat crime, as he has also threatened to do in other cities like Chicago and Baltimore.
“Like other mayors across the country, I have not asked for nor do I need federal intervention,” Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said at the time, stressing that his city was protecting free speech while addressing “occasional violence and property destruction.” According to NPR, violent crime in Portland during the first half of this year decreased 17% compared to the same period in 2024, reducing the downtown homeless tent encampments that proliferated in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.