President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of troops to safeguard Portland, Oregon, and any Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities “under siege from attack by Antifa.”
On Saturday morning, Trump announced this decision on Truth Social, following a request from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
“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.
He emphasized that he is “authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”
On Monday, Trump labeled Antifa as a terrorist organization through an executive order, shortly after the assassination of Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk on September 10.
Inscribed on a casing of an unfired shell, suspected Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson wrote, “O Bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao,” as noted by Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT), alluding to the Italian song “Bella Ciao,” celebrated among Antifa. Another casing read, “Hey Fascist! Catch!” according to Cox.
During an executive order signing event on Thursday, Vice President JD Vance highlighted a violent anti-ICE protest in Portland over the summer that resulted in the siege of an ICE building.
“I believe it was in Oregon where you had a federal building where there were men in black ski masks who were committing acts of violence, who were shutting down a government building,” Vance said.
“These are paid people. This is organized,” Vance added. “They’re committing acts of political terrorism on American soil, and it’s time we had a government that looked out for the American people rather than the people who are committing violence against the American people.”
Trump indicated the federal government would soon be stepping into Portland to restore order.
“These are crazy people, and they’re trying to burn down buildings, including federal buildings,” Trump said.
“But we’re going to get out there, and we’re going to do a pretty big number on those people in Portland that are doing that. They’re professional agitators and anarchists. They’re actually anarchists,” he went on to add.
