On Saturday, President Donald Trump authorized military intervention to address ongoing issues in Portland. By late Sunday, the Department of War, led by Secretary Pete Hegseth, acted on this directive, deploying 200 National Guard troops to the city on the West Coast.
Portland has been known as a hotspot for Antifa protests, recent violence targeting ICE facilities, and numerous Black Lives Matter movements, especially during the 2020 George Floyd riots. During these events, the federal Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse suffered acts of vandalism and accusations of arson, property damage, and assaults on federal officials.
The Trump administration said they’re not going to put up with that kind of activity any longer:
NEW: 200 National guard troops called to federal service in Oregon for 60 days pic.twitter.com/BXC2sAR0uD
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) September 28, 2025
Hegseth sent the forces in for 60 days:
For many weeks, President Trump has been vocal about the situation in Portland, particularly highlighting demonstrations outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office on Macadam Ave. He frequently alluded to the possibility of deploying additional federal law enforcement or military personnel to restore order. However, various state and local leaders have contested his portrayal, arguing that he may be citing outdated footage from the 2020 protests.
Predictably, Portland’s Democratic leaders, who have managed the prolonged unrest, are uninterested in curbing it, and swiftly opposed Trump’s decision:
BREAKING NEWS: Oregon sues Trump administration over unlawful federalization of National Guard. Read more. pic.twitter.com/Qamd4C5obX
— Attorney General Dan Rayfield (@AGDanRayfield) September 28, 2025
Governor Tina Kotek, Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson addressed the media on Sunday, criticizing Trump for leveraging the situation for “political gain” and overreaching his presidential powers. They might have more credibility, though, if they had taken steps to re-establish peace and order in the city during the past five years.
“The issue is that the president bases his opinions on social media,” remarked Rayfield. “Instead of collaborating with elected leaders nationwide, the president is either intentionally ignoring the current situation in Portland to earn political points or, at best, is carelessly basing his decisions on social media hearsay.”
Throughout the weekend, Oregon officials had hoped to persuade Trump and other cabinet officials from moving forward with a plan he announced on social media Saturday morning to send troops to Portland – “authorizing Full Force, if necessary” – though the president did not specify what he meant.
This is Antifa in Portland, Oregon – they’ve had literal guillotines outside Portland’s ICE facility for months now. They are terrorists. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has turned a blind-eye to all of it. She’s been aiding an abetting terrorists. Arrest ALL OF THEM. pic.twitter.com/umGtP1IKCf
— Matt Morse – 5’11.99″ – 213 IQ Online Certified (@MattMorseTV) September 27, 2025
READ MORE: New: Bad Night for Antifa in Portland As Feds Move In
Antifa Responds to Trump Order on Portland Troop Deployment, and Things Could Get Really Ugly
As we reported, Trump declared Antifa to be a “major” terrorist organization Wednesday, which could significantly change how the federal government deals with them (read: a lot more harshly).
YA THINK? Trump Declared Antifa a Terrorist Group in 2020, Will This Time Turn Out Differently?
It’s unclear as of this writing what happens next: will a judge slap a temporary restraining order on Hegseth’s plans? Are the troops already getting ready to deploy at this moment? RedState will keep you updated on the never-ending story of the drama in Portland.
Editor’s Note: The days of lawlessness in our major cities are over. Thanks to President Trump, our streets will be SAFE once again.
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