Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
President Donald Trump on Saturday said he is directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to send U.S. troops to Portland, Oregon — invoking what he called the need to protect “war-ravaged” areas and federal facilities under siege by “domestic terrorists.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was authorizing “Full Force, if necessary,” to defend Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) buildings and restore order in the city.
“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,” Trump wrote.
The extraordinary move immediately sparked confusion and condemnation, with questions swirling over what legal authority the president could use to deploy federal troops on U.S. soil. The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 generally bars the use of federal military personnel to enforce domestic law without congressional authorization.
Pentagon caught off guard
Pentagon officials were reportedly blindsided by Trump’s announcement. One senior defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the order is expected to involve National Guard units in a limited support role — such as logistics or communications — but said it was unclear what Trump meant by “full force.”
The White House and Defense Department did not immediately respond to requests for clarification.
Oregon officials push back
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said she had no advance notice of Trump’s decision and learned of it only after the president’s post.
“Portland is doing just fine,” Kotek said at a Saturday news conference. “Our city is a far cry from the war-ravaged community he has posted about on social media. I made that clear to the president this morning — we got this, we are doing fine.”
She added that she would not authorize deployment of the National Guard. “There is no mission for them right now,” she said.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson also rebuked the decision, warning that a new influx of federal forces could inflame tensions. “We did not ask for them to come,” he told reporters. “They are here without clear precedent or purpose.”
Critics warn of constitutional crisis
Civil rights advocates and Democratic officials decried the move as an authoritarian escalation, echoing concerns raised in 2020 when Trump deployed federal agents to U.S. cities during nationwide protests.
Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) called for residents to “stand united in peace and protest” against Trump’s directive. “We will use every tool at our disposal — public pressure, litigation, legislation — to oppose this authoritarian action,” Dexter said in a video posted to X.
Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read said the order “should chill every American to their core,” adding, “No troops on our streets.”
Context of rising tension
Trump’s announcement follows an executive order earlier this week labeling Antifa a domestic terrorist organization — despite no legal mechanism for such a designation. The president has also deployed troops to Los Angeles and placed Washington, D.C. law enforcement under federal control, citing national security concerns and a push to reduce crime.
Federal courts are still weighing the legality of Trump’s previous military deployments within U.S. cities. A federal judge previously ruled his Los Angeles deployment unlawful but stayed the decision pending appeal.
As Portland officials brace for possible troop arrivals, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) urged calm. “This is the ‘don’t take the bait’ moment,” he said. “Their goal is to create engagement that will lead to conflict.”
