US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday (Sept. 27) that he is deploying federal forces to Portland, Oregon, to confront what he termed "domestic terrorists" from the left-wing Antifa movement. Trump further threatened to authorize the military to use its "full force" to suppress protests if necessary.
This latest move to send troops into a city led by Democratic officials has sparked intense backlash. Oregon Governor strongly condemned the action, accusing Trump of an abuse of power.
In a social media post, Trump claimed he was acting on a request from the Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. He stated he had instructed Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to provide all necessary forces to protect Portland and its federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities from alleged attacks by "Antifa terrorists."
Following the recent killing of a right-wing commentator, Trump has repeatedly pointed the finger at radical left-wing elements. He recently signed an executive order designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.
The Department of Defense later issued a statement saying officials are prepared to mobilize military personnel under the President's direction to support the Department of Homeland Security's operations in Portland. However, the White House provided no deployment timeline, and the specific scope of what Trump meant by mobilizing the "full force" of the military remains unclear. It is also unknown whether the administration is considering deploying active-duty troops or National Guard forces.
In response to the threat of a military deployment, Portland's Democratic Mayor Keith Wilson stated bluntly, The number one thing we need in Portland is zero troops. This is an American city. We don't need any intervention. This is not a military target.
Echoing this sentiment, Democratic Governor Tina Kotek stated that the situation in Portland is stable, indicating that they can manage public safety needs independently. There is no insurrection, no threat to national security. Their major cities do not require a military presence.
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