President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of US troops to Portland, Oregon, authorising the use of “full force” if required, to suppress protests targeting immigration detention centres in the city.
The announcement marks a further expansion of federal troop deployment in American cities amid the administration’s wider crackdown on illegal immigration.
In a post on Truth Social, the President stated he was “directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland.” He claimed the action was necessary to protect “any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists,” adding: “I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”
Democratic Lawmakers Reject Deployment
The announcement was met with immediate and strong pushback from Democratic state and city officials, who argued the deployment was unnecessary.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued a statement saying, “There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm,” and confirmed she has requested further information from the Trump administration regarding the order.
Portland’s mayor, Keith Wilson, similarly rejected the move, stating that the “number of necessary troops is zero, in Portland and any other American city.”
Unspecified Details
The President’s post did not specify whether he intends to activate the National Guard or regular US military personnel, nor did it define what constitutes the use of “full force.”
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell acknowledged the order, telling reporters, “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 information and updates as they become available.”
The order has raised questions about the legal and operational limits of troop deployments to manage civilian demonstrations.
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