Trump is sending federal troops to quell non-existent ‘war-ravaged Portland’
On September 27, Donald Trump announced he would send troops to Portland, Oregon — asserting that the city was “under siege” by “Antifa and other domestic terrorists” and that federal ICE facilities needed protection, according to The Washington Post.
A post on his Truth Social platform depicts Trump as writing, “I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth” to “provide all necessary Troops” and authorized use of “Full Force, if necessary,” according to ABC News. Trump also claimed the move was made “at the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem.”
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It remains unclear whether Trump was planning on sending active‑duty military, Marines, federal law enforcement, or National Guard units to Portland.
No Oregon state or Portland city official has requested federal deployment. Governor Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson swiftly rejected the proposal, asserting there is no security crisis in Portland, according to The Salem Reporter. Wilson stated: “The number of necessary troops is zero.”
Governor says “no thanks” to Trump’s troops: According to The Associated Press, Kotek said she directly told Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem earlier in the day yesterday that troops are not needed and she believes he does not have the authority to deploy the military there.
“We can manage our own local public safety needs. There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security,” Kotek told reporters.
“This is an American city. We do not need any intervention,” Mayor Keith Wilson said at the news conference. “This is not a military target.”
Local protests around ICE facilities in Portland have occurred — sometimes with clashes — but reports suggest activity has been smaller and more contained than during the 2020 protests. Portland was the site of a long-running and sometimes violent protest following George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police in 2020.
As of this writing, there was no sign of a federal police presence in downtown Portland.
“Where’s the emergency?” asked resident Allen Schmertzler, 72, who said he was “disgusted” by the president’s decision.
Another, John McNeur, 74, called Trump’s statement “ridiculous.” He pointed out that he was taking “a leisurely stroll” along the river on a peaceful, sunny day.
“This place is not a city that’s out of control,” he said. “It’s just a beautiful place.” ~ AP
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Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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