In a significant escalation of federal intervention, President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he has authorized the use of ‘full force’ and ordered the deployment of US troops to Portland, Oregon. The decision comes amid ongoing protests and violent clashes targeting the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in the city. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to mobilize all necessary troops to protect what he described as ‘war-ravaged’ Portland and ICE facilities under siege by Antifa and other ‘domestic terrorists.’ This move further expands the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration and civil unrest across American cities. Portland’s Democrat lawmakers, including Mayor Keith Wilson, have vehemently opposed federal intervention, asserting that local authorities are capable of handling the situation. The ICE facility has been a focal point of protests, with some federal agents reportedly injured in violent confrontations. Trump’s announcement did not specify whether National Guard or regular military forces would be activated. Earlier in the week, Trump formally designated Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, a decision that has drawn criticism from Democratic Oregon lawmakers. Representative Suzanne Bonamici accused ICE of misleading the public about their targets for arrest and detainment. Trump’s rhetoric has intensified, with him describing Portland as ‘like living in hell’ and vowing to take decisive action against ‘professional agitators and anarchists.’
Trump orders deployment of troops to Portland and authorises ‘full force’
