Trump Orders Troop Deployment to Portland, Authorizes “Full Force” to Protect ICE Facilities

Washington, D.C. — U.S. President Donald J. Trump has ordered the deployment of military forces to Portland, Oregon, authorizing them to use “full force, if necessary” to protect federal immigration facilities from what he called “domestic terrorists.”

In a social media post on Saturday, Trump said he had directed Defense Secretary 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.”

The move marks Trump’s latest crackdown on Democrat-led cities, reigniting tensions over federal intervention in local affairs.

Local Leaders Push Back

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson responded sharply to Trump’s order, saying, “The number of necessary troops is zero, in Portland or any other American city. The president will not find lawlessness or violence here—unless he plans to perpetrate it.”

At a Friday press conference, Wilson and other local leaders urged calm, noting that an influx of federal officers had arrived without a formal request from the city. “This may be a show of force, but that’s all it is. It’s just a big show,” Wilson said.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) warned on X that Trump “may be replaying the 2020 playbook and surging into Portland with the goal of provoking conflict and violence.” In 2020, protests over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis dragged on for months in Portland, and many civic leaders said federal troop deployments escalated rather than calmed the unrest.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said her office is seeking clarification from the White House, writing on X: “There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm.”

Pentagon Stays Silent on Troop Details

It remains unclear whether Trump’s “full force” directive includes authorization for lethal force and under what circumstances. U.S. troops are allowed to use force in self-defense during domestic deployments.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said, “We stand ready to mobilize U.S. military personnel in support of DHS operations in Portland at the President’s direction. The Department will provide updates as they become available.” He did not specify whether National Guard, active-duty troops, or a combination would be deployed.

Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the move, telling Fox News that ICE agents must be protected from protesters. “We’re not going to put up with it. This administration is not playing games,” she said.

Immigration Crackdown Escalates

The latest deployment follows growing protests across major U.S. cities against Trump’s immigration policies. Tensions have spiked since a recent shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas left one detainee dead and two seriously wounded.

Trump has made immigration enforcement and crime a central focus of his administration, even as violent crime rates have fallen nationwide. His efforts to designate the left-wing Antifa movement as a domestic terrorist organization have faced criticism from civil liberties advocates and law enforcement officials, who note there has never been a U.S. terror attack linked to Antifa.

The most notorious incident connected to Antifa occurred in Portland in August 2020, when supporter Michael Reinoehl shot and killed Aaron “Jay” Danielson, a member of the far-right Patriot Prayer group. Reinoehl was later killed by law enforcement during an arrest attempt.

Nationwide Protests and Federal Response

Trump’s immigration crackdown has led to record numbers of deportation attempts but has also resulted in the arrest of many individuals without criminal records. Cities like New York, Chicago, and Washington have seen strong pushback from residents and local leaders.

On Friday, ICE used tear gas, less-lethal rounds, and pepper balls to disperse protesters outside a detention center in Broadview, a Chicago suburb. Demonstrations have also been reported at detention centers in Portland and other parts of the country.