President Donald Trump announced Saturday, September 27th, that he is sending U.S. troops to Portland, Oregon, and has authorized the use of “full force” if needed. In a Truth Social post, he 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 attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists.”
The post did not specify whether the deployment would involve the National Guard or active-duty military. Legal experts noted that federal law, including the Posse Comitatus Act, generally bars active-duty troops from enforcing domestic law, raising questions about the president’s authority.
Portland officials rejected the federal intervention. “We did not ask for them to come,” Mayor Keith Wilson explained, noting that federal agents in other cities have harmed commerce and local prosperity. Democratic lawmakers, including Representative Maxine Dexter and Secretary of State Tobias Read, condemned Trump’s directive and urged residents to stay peaceful while resisting what they called authoritarian measures.
The announcement follows Trump’s executive order designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, a move some legal experts say lacks clear legal authority. He has previously deployed troops to cities including Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., citing violent protests and rising street crime. A federal court ruled in September that the Los Angeles deployment was illegal, though the decision is currently pending appeal.
Trump said the Portland deployment targets “professional agitators and anarchists.” He previously described the city as “like living in hell” and linked the operation to his broader crackdown on illegal immigration. Protests at Portland ICE facilities have sometimes turned violent, injuring federal agents.
Senator Jeff Merkley urged residents to avoid confrontations with federal troops while exercising their right to protest. The Department of Homeland Security announced plans to boost security at ICE facilities nationwide following recent attacks on immigration detention centers.
