Today's News: Trump Orders Troops Deployed to Portland Amid Anti-ICE Protests
Oregon’s Democratic state and local officials assert that Portland is safe, calm, and does not require federal military intervention, accusing Trump of attempting to create chaos.
Photo: John Rudoff/Reuters
Overview
Date: September 27, 2025
Summary: President Trump announced on September 27, 2025, that he has ordered troops to Portland, Oregon, to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities he claims are “war ravaged” and “under siege” by “Antifa and other domestic terrorists.” He authorized the use of “Full Force, if necessary.” This directive has been met with strong opposition from Oregon’s Democratic state and local officials, including Governor Tina Kotek and Mayor Keith Wilson, who assert that Portland is safe, calm, and does not require federal military intervention, accusing Trump of attempting to create chaos. The announcement follows a shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas and is part of Trump’s broader strategy of deploying federal forces to Democratic-led cities, often leading to legal challenges and accusations of politicizing the military.
Sources
The New York Times - Trump Says He Has Ordered Troops to Protect ICE Facilities in Portland
CNN - Trump says he’s sending troops to Portland to protect ICE facilities
NBC News - Trump directs defense secretary to deploy troops to Portland
The Washington Post - Trump calls for troops in Portland, escalating use of military inside U.S.
Fox News - Trump vows ‘full force’ as he plans to send troops to Portland amid anti-ICE protests
Key Points
President Trump ordered the deployment of troops to Portland, Oregon, citing the need to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities from “Antifa and other domestic terrorists.”
Trump authorized the use of “Full Force, if necessary,” a term whose meaning remained unclear to the Pentagon and was not further clarified by the White House.
The deployment was requested by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and directed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
State and local officials in Oregon, including Governor Tina Kotek and Mayor Keith Wilson, strongly oppose the deployment, asserting that Portland is not “war ravaged” and does not require federal military intervention.
Officials argue that Trump’s actions are an attempt to create chaos, provoke violent interactions, and politicize the military for political gain.
The announcement follows a recent shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas, which federal authorities are investigating as targeted violence and which has heightened security concerns for the agency. Only detainees were injured or killed in the shooting (The New York Times: Detained on Immigration Charges in Dallas, He’s Now Fighting for His Life.)
The deployment is part of a broader pattern of Trump’s administration using federal forces, including the National Guard and federal law enforcement, in Democratic-led cities like Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Memphis, often over local objections.
There are legal questions and challenges surrounding the president’s authority to deploy federal troops for domestic law enforcement, with previous deployments facing lawsuits and adverse court rulings, such as the violation of the Posse Comitatus Act in California.
Trump has designated Antifa as a “domestic terrorist organization,” a designation that does not exist under U.S. law and is legally questionable given Antifa’s nature as a broad political ideology rather than a unified organization.
Pentagon officials across multiple reports indicated they were surprised by Trump’s social media announcement and lacked immediate details regarding the scope, size, or type of forces to be deployed.
Unique Highlights
The New York Times detailed the daily pattern of protests at the Portland ICE building, describing how small groups of demonstrators (rarely more than two dozen) encountered federal agents who used tear gas, batons, bear spray, rubber bullets, and shields after midnight. It also noted a charter school moved out due to tear gas use and Senator Ron Wyden’s observation of Trump’s “fixation with Portland” and “policies come by whim.”
CNN highlighted DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin’s unsubstantiated claims that some protests are “highly organized” and protesters are being paid and funded. It also cited Senator Jeff Merkley’s specific accusation that the president sent agents “to create chaos and riots here in Portland, to induce a reaction.”
NBC News revealed that Pentagon officials “appeared to be surprised” by Trump’s Truth Social post, having no immediate information about the potential operation’s size, scope, or type of forces. The article also noted Mayor Keith Wilson’s plan to sign a joint statement of values with a dozen other regional mayors in opposition to the deployment.
The Washington Post provided specific details regarding the legal challenge to the California deployment, stating that District Court Judge Charles R. Breyer ruled the Trump administration violated the Posse Comitatus Act, and that the administration appealed this decision. It also reported that the streets outside the Portland ICE facility remained “largely empty” hours after Trump’s announcement, with only “two homeless men” and a “handful of passersby.”
Fox News uniquely reported that Portland city officials had issued a land use violation notice on the ICE facility, disputing how long detainees can be held there and citing another violation for boarded-up windows. It also mentioned protesters in August displaying a guillotine and clashing with police.
The Wall Street Journal cited a report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association showing a decrease in violent crime in Portland during the first half of 2025, including a 51% drop in homicides compared with the same period last year. It also quoted Representative Maxine Dexter saying, “Trump wants to tell a story of Portland that doesn’t reflect who we are.”
Contrasting Details
Description of Portland’s Situation: President Trump consistently described Portland as “war ravaged,” “under siege,” experiencing “violent riots,” “anarchy,” and having “people out of control” (The New York Times, CNN, NBC News, The Washington Post, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal). In stark contrast, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek stated, “Portland is doing just fine… We got this. We are doing fine. There is no insurrection,” and described the city as a “thriving community” (The New York Times, NBC News, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal). Mayor Keith Wilson affirmed that Trump “will not find lawlessness or violence here unless he plans to perpetrate it” (CNN, NBC News, The Washington Post, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal).
Protest Activity and Violence: Federal descriptions, relayed by DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin and the White House, cited “weeks of violent riots,” “attacks against law enforcement,” and specific federal charges (CNN, The Washington Post). However, The New York Times reported that protests at the ICE building rarely numbered more than two dozen, were confined, and local law enforcement (Chief Bob Day of Portland Police Bureau) said, “Some of what you are seeing out there just does not accurately reflect what’s happening in this city.” The Washington Post further noted that streets outside the ICE facility were “largely empty” hours after Trump’s announcement.
Crime Rates: Trump’s narrative consistently linked the deployment to addressing “crime” and “anarchy” in Portland (NBC News, The Washington Post). This directly conflicts with data cited by The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, which reported declining violent crime and homicide rates in Portland over the past few years, including a 51% drop in homicides in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year (The Wall Street Journal).
Purpose of Federal Presence: The Trump administration stated the purpose was to protect federal facilities and restore “law and order” (The New York Times, CNN). However, Senator Jeff Merkley and Mayor Keith Wilson suggested a contrasting motive, stating that Trump sent agents “to create chaos and riots here in Portland, to induce a reaction” and to “make Portland look as he was describing it as” (CNN, NBC News, The Washington Post).
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