The governor of Oregon termed President Trump’s federalization of Oregon National Guard troops as ‘unlawful and unwarranted’ during a tense exchange that has been publicly released.
On Sunday morning, Trump aide Natalie Harp sent a text to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek containing a message from the president. The full exchange was obtained by The Oregonian via a public records request.
The text stated: ‘Governor: The ICE Facility in Portland faced another attack last night. In reality, it and various Federal Buildings are under nightly assault. This situation is untenable. I appreciate your urgent attention to this matter!’
It was signed in all capital letters, ‘PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.’
Kotek responded directly, writing: ‘Received. I know he has a busy schedule today. Will try calling him later. Thanks.’
Soon after, Governor Kotek received news that Trump had authorized Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to federalize 200 members of the Oregon National Guard, planning to mobilize them beyond the governor’s control to safeguard federal buildings.
The troops are scheduled to be sent to Portland by Thursday, aligning with the National Guard’s four-day mobilization timeline, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Bomar informed The Oregonian.
This development intensified the exchange between the governor and the president. Kotek sent a follow-up message to Harp, requesting her to convey it to President Trump.
On Sunday morning, Trump aide Natalie Harp sent a text message to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek with a message from the president
After the governor received news that Trump had federalized 200 members of the Oregon National Guard, the exchange became more heated
The text read: ‘I just received your notice to mobilize the Oregon National Guard outside of my control. I believe this is unlawful and unwarranted. You broke your promise to speak with me before taking further action against Portland. I will be in touch later.’
The president responded through Harp once again, stating: ‘I notified you to get things in order, and you didn’t. They attacked our ICE Patriots last night, and at other times. If you get your State in order, we don’t come in, but everyone knows that Portland has been an unmitigated disaster for years. I won’t let that happen in America! President DJT.’
It is unclear what exactly Trump was referring to in regards to the ICE attacks.
Portland has been experiencing anti-ICE protests, but they have mostly been peaceful. The protests have occasionally resulted in the deployment of tear gas and at one point caused an ICE facility to close for a few days over the summer.
After the text exchange, Kotek asked her staff to check with Portland Police about the protests and any arrests or attacks which may have occurred.
The police only reported one misdemeanor arrest and a report of a laser pointer aimed at a Customs and Border Protection helicopter.
Later, the FBI Portland Division announced Monday afternoon that four undocumented immigrants were detained because one of them was allegedly responsible for pointing the laser.
The governor has said that there is no insurrection or serious threat to public safety in Portland and that she does not want troops to be sent to the city.
Trump’s messages to Kotek were all sent through his aide, Natalie Harp
Kotek has said that there is no insurrection or serious threat to public safety in Portland and that she does not want troops to be sent to the city
Trump has been floating the idea of sending the National Guard to Portland for the past few weeks
On Monday, she told reporters that she would do everything in her power to delay the deployment of the National Guard to Oregon’s largest city.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed for a temporary restraining order to try to stop the troop deployment. A judge is set to hear the case on Friday.
‘I am dissatisfied that there has been no real conversation with the Trump administration,’ Kotek said. ‘Their desire to call up Oregon National Guard members based on faulty information is highly problematic.’
The governor has said she believes the president is being shown footage of Portland in 2020, when the city was experiencing larger and more damaging protests.
Trump has been floating the idea of sending the National Guard to Portland for the past few weeks, claiming that ‘crazy people’ are trying to burn down federal buildings and calling protestors ‘professional agitators and anarchists.’
On Saturday, the day before the text exchange, Kotek had a seven-minute phone call with Trump where she tried to convince the president that Portland is not ‘war-ravaged.’ She maintained that local and state leaders did not need the assistance of federal troops to manage public safety needs.
