Trump Orders Military Deployment to Portland Despite Local Officials' Opposition and City's Peaceful Reality

President Donald Trump announced Saturday his intention to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, stating he is "authorizing Full Force, if necessary" to address what he termed "domestic terrorists" as part of his expanding military deployments to American cities.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, a Democrat, quickly responded by asserting that Trump is misusing his authority by ordering military personnel into Portland, a city she described as doing "just fine" without federal intervention. Her position was echoed by other government officials, police leadership, and business representatives, all of whom maintained that military deployment is unnecessary and that Trump is presenting a distorted portrayal of Portland's situation.

Trump made the announcement via social media, stating he had directed the Department of Defense to "provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland." He justified the decision as essential for protecting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, which he claimed are "under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists."

When asked for additional information regarding the announcement, including deployment timeline and which military units would be involved, the White House did not immediately respond.

During an afternoon press conference, Governor Kotek revealed she had directly communicated to Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem earlier that day that troops were not needed in Portland, and expressed her belief that the president lacks the authority to deploy military forces there.

"We can manage our own local public safety needs. There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security," Kotek stated to reporters.

The governor mentioned she "tried to understand his reasoning" during their conversation, but Trump simply responded, "Let's keep talking."

Mayor Keith Wilson emphasized at the news conference, "This is an American city. We do not need any intervention. This is not a military target."

Kotek indicated that the president provided no timeline for troop arrival. She confirmed informing him that the Oregon National Guard is not needed and that she has no plans to activate it.

Previously, however, Trump deployed National Guard soldiers and active duty Marines in Los Angeles despite opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom. The federal government is currently appealing a judge's ruling that found Trump's use of the guard illegal in that instance.

Kotek urged Portland residents to remain calm, emphasizing that property damage or violence would not be tolerated.

"Let's not take the bait," she advised. "Let's not respond to what the president is trying to do."

Earlier Saturday, downtown Portland showed no signs of federal presence as people jogged along the Willamette River, enjoyed a riverside fountain, or cycled on a pleasant fall day.

"Where's the emergency?" questioned resident Allen Schmertzler, 72, who described feeling "disgusted" by the president's decision.

Another resident, John McNeur, 74, called Trump's statement "ridiculous." He noted he was taking "a leisurely stroll" along the river on a peaceful, sunny day.

"This place is not a city that's out of control," he said. "It's just a beautiful place."

Trump previously threatened to deploy the National Guard to Chicago but has not yet done so. A deployment to Memphis, Tennessee, is anticipated soon, though it will involve only about 150 troops—significantly fewer than were sent to Washington, D.C. for Trump's crime crackdown or to Los Angeles in response to immigration protests that turned violent following the troops' arrival.

In Memphis, approximately 80 to 100 people marched to City Hall plaza to protest the expected arrival of National Guard troops and more than a dozen federal law enforcement agencies next week.

Protesters displayed signs with messages such as "Resources Not Task Forces" and "Memphis don't need no occupation, Memphis don't need no government control"—adapting lyrics from Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall."

Speakers argued that Memphis needs increased funding for education, crime prevention, youth services, and hospitals rather than federal troops and agents. Officials in Oregon made similar points.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the Department of Defense would provide information and updates when available.

"We stand ready to mobilize U.S. military personnel in support of DHS operations in Portland at the President's direction," Parnell said.

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Bomar, spokesperson for the Oregon National Guard, confirmed via email that "no official requests have been received at this time" for Guard support. "Any requests would need to be coordinated through the Governor's office," he added.

Oregon's congressional delegation, with Republican Representative Cliff Bentz as the sole exception, demanded that the Trump administration refrain from sending federal agents and troops to Portland.

"This unilateral action represents an abuse of executive authority, seeks to incite violence, and undermines the constitutional balance of power between the federal government and states," the Democratic lawmakers stated in their letter to Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary Noem.

Portland, with a population of 636,000, was the site of prolonged and occasionally violent racial justice protests following George Floyd's killing by Minneapolis police in 2020. The Trump administration deployed hundreds of agents, including U.S. Border Patrol personnel, purportedly to protect the federal courthouse and other federal property from vandalism.

Late Saturday evening, a small group of protesters gathered on the sidewalk outside the ICE facility. Federal law enforcement arrested one person following a brief confrontation as ICE agents cleared a path for a vehicle exiting the facility.

Recent demonstrations have been considerably more subdued and concentrated around the ICE building, which is located outside downtown—the focal point of the 2020 protests. The facility's main entrance and ground-floor windows remain boarded up and had previously been marked with graffiti.

Some federal agents have sustained injuries and several protesters have faced assault charges. Some demonstrators have also reported injuries. When protesters erected a prop guillotine earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security characterized it as "unhinged behavior."

Police Chief Bob Day stated at the news conference that his department does not participate in immigration enforcement. He later clarified that Federal Protective Services is responsible for the ICE building, and police would only intervene in cases of vandalism or criminal activity in the surrounding area.

The city announced this month it would issue a land use violation notice to the ICE building for detaining individuals overnight or for periods exceeding 12 hours—violations of its conditional land use approval. DHS maintained that detainees are briefly processed before being transferred to other detention facilities.

Portland is classified among so-called sanctuary cities. While no strict definition exists for this designation, it generally refers to jurisdictions that limit cooperation with ICE.

City organizations and officials have worked to highlight downtown Portland's recovery since 2020.

This summer reportedly saw the highest pedestrian traffic since before the pandemic, and overall violent crime from January through June decreased by 17% compared to the same period in 2024, according to a recent Major Cities Chiefs Association report. The downtown area has also experienced a reduction in homeless encampments.

Since the September 10 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Trump has intensified efforts to confront what he labels the "radical left," which he blames for political violence.

"We're going to get out there and we're going to do a pretty big number on those people in Portland," Trump declared Thursday in the Oval Office, referring to what he called "professional agitators and anarchists."