Trump Authorizes Troop Deployment to Portland Amid Rising Tensions

Fri Oct 17 2025 04:06:56 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a move sparking controversy, President Trump has ordered troops to patrol Portland, Oregon, in response to ongoing protests targeting immigration detention facilities. States' officials voice strong opposition.

President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of troops to Portland, Oregon, granting them authority to use 'full force' as protests erupt targeting immigration facilities. The action aims to protect ICE facilities from what Trump describes as attacks by 'domestic terrorists' like Antifa. This decision has been met with fierce backlash from Democratic lawmakers, particularly Oregon officials, who assert there is no national security threat, while many Republican officials show support for the deployment amidst concerns of lawlessness in the city.

Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of troops to Portland, Oregon, authorising use of 'full force' if needed, to suppress protests targeting immigration detention centres.

The US president claimed the move would help protect 'any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists', characterising the city as 'war ravaged' in a Truth Social post.

The announcement marks a further expansion of troop deployments in US cities amid a wider crackdown by the Trump administration on illegal immigration.

The latest move has drawn pushback from Democratic lawmakers, who said there was no need for federal troops to be deployed to Portland.

There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm, said Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.

Kotek told a news conference on Saturday that 'any deployment would be an abuse of power', and said she was working with Oregon's Attorney General Dan Rayfield 'to see if any response is necessary'.

Trump's post does not specify whether he intends to activate National Guard or regular US military - nor what is meant by the use of 'full force'.

'We stand ready to mobilize US military personnel in support of DHS [Department of Homeland Security] operations in Portland at the president's direction,' chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told the BBC.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland has been targeted by protesters since early June, sometimes leading to violent clashes, with 26 people federally charged for various offenses.

Earlier this week, Trump signed an order formally designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. Local lawmakers criticized Trump's actions, asserting that the deployment could lead to unnecessary violence and disruption in their communities.