President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he has directed U.S. troops to deploy to Portland, Oregon, authorizing the use of “full force” if necessary to secure federal facilities.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to “provide all necessary troops to protect war-ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE facilities under siege from Antifa and other domestic terrorists.” He added, “I am also authorizing full force, if necessary.”
The order marks an escalation of federal involvement in U.S. cities as the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on immigration and political unrest. Portland officials, including Democratic Mayor Keith Wilson, have previously rejected federal intervention. “I have not asked for—and do not need—federal intervention,” Wilson said earlier this month.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in Portland have been frequent targets of protests, some of which turned violent and left federal agents injured. Trump’s post did not clarify whether he plans to use National Guard units or active-duty military forces. The Department of War has not yet provided further details.
Trump has signaled the move for days, telling reporters Thursday that authorities would “do a pretty big number on those people in Portland,” whom he described as “professional agitators and anarchists.” Earlier this month, he called the city “like living in hell” and hinted at military action.
The decision comes the same week Trump formally designated Antifa a domestic terrorist organization, drawing sharp criticism from Oregon Democrats. Representative Suzanne Bonamici said Friday that federal officials’ actions have gone beyond what ICE initially described. “ICE has said they’re targeting people for arrest and detainment who have committed crimes. That’s what they told us. But that’s not what we are seeing,” she said.
