President Trump said National Guard troops are now “in place” in Oregon to stop the “lawless mayhem” targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
“Our GREAT Federal Law Enforcement Officers have not been able to enforce the Laws in Oregon,” he wrote on social media Wednesday. “ANTIFA and the Radical Left Anarchists have been viciously attacking our Federal Law Enforcement Officers, men and women who are simply doing their job, protecting Federal Property, and enforcing Federal Immigration Laws and the Rule of Law.”
“We will never allow MOBS to take over our streets, burn our Cities, or destroy America,” he said. “The National Guard is now in place, and has been dedicated to restoring LAW AND ORDER, and ending the Chaos, Death, and Destruction! We are a Nation of LAW, and we will PREVAIL.”
He went on to slam Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, saying she “must be living in a ’Dream World.’”
“Portland is a NEVER-ENDING DISASTER. Many people have been badly hurt, and even killed,” he said in another post. “It is run like a Third World Country. We’re only going in because, as American Patriots, WE HAVE NO CHOICE. LAW AND ORDER MUST PREVAIL IN OUR CITIES, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE!”
Ms. Kotek has been railing against the plans, saying Oregon does not want or need a federal takeover.
“Contrary to President Trump’s social media posts, Portland is not war-ravaged,” she wrote on social media.
In another post, she said, “We all know Oregon is home, not a military target. Military service members should be dedicated to real emergencies.”
“There is no need or legal justification for military troops in our major city,” she said.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson shared similar sentiments. At a press conference last week, he said the influx of federal presence is “disappointing news.”
“We did not ask for them to come. They are here without precedent or purpose. We have seen how their presence harms commerce and prosperity and opportunity in other cities like Washington, D.C.,” he said.
“Imagine the federal government sent instead 100 teachers, or 100 engineers, or 100 addiction specialists,” he said.
He called the increased presence “just a big show.”
The president first announced that he had decided to send troops to Portland last week, as requested by 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,” he said in a weekend post on Truth Social. “I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”
Earlier this month, he railed against anti-ICE protesters in Portland, saying they’re “paid terrorists [and] agitators.”
“They get paid money by radical left groups, not radical right groups, radical left groups, and they get paid a lot of money,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.
“They won’t even stand [to] fight. They will not stay there. They’ve ruined that city,” he said, adding that in Portland, “it’s like living in hell.”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.