President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he would be directing Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegeseth to “provide all necessary troops” to protect “war-ravaged Portland,” Oregon, and in an effort to protect Immigration Customs and Enforcement facilities in the city.
“At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security [Secretary] Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social Saturday. “I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Trump’s announcement comes shortly after Portland city officials threatened to evict ICE from its facility over alleged permit violations.
On Friday, Portland city officials held an emergency press conference after observing “a sudden influx of federal agents” in the city.
“We did not ask for them to come,” said Portland Mayor Keith Wilson during the press conference, according to a report from KOIN, a CBS affiliated station.
“If the federal government isn’t here to lend us a hand, take a hike…it’s just a big show. The president has sent agents here to create chaos and riots in Portland. [Trump] wants to induce a violent exchange. Let’s not grant him that wish…Say no to an authoritarian president.”
