Trump Orders Troop Deployment to Portland, Authorizes ‘Full Force’ if Needed

US President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of troops to Portland, Oregon, authorizing the use of “full force” to protect immigration detention centres from protesters, BBC reported. 

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to send forces to “protect war-ravaged Portland” and secure Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities from what he described as attacks by Antifa and “domestic terrorists.”

The move has drawn sharp criticism from Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Democratic lawmakers, who argue there is no security threat in Portland. Kotek called the decision “an abuse of power” and said she was consulting with the state attorney general on possible legal responses.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the military stands ready to support Department of Homeland Security operations, though it remains unclear whether Trump intends to deploy the National Guard or regular U.S. forces.

The announcement follows months of demonstrations in Portland, where ICE facilities have been targeted by protesters since early June. Federal prosecutors have charged 26 people with crimes ranging from arson to assault on officers. DHS has accused Antifa of doxxing ICE officers and issuing threats against staff.

While Democrats condemned the move as a replay of the controversial 2020 federal crackdown on protests, some Republicans voiced support. US Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said Portland had become a “crime-ridden war zone” and praised Trump for acting to safeguard ICE facilities.

Legal experts, however, warned that Trump’s designation of Antifa as a domestic terrorist group has no legal basis and could face constitutional challenges under the First Amendment. Questions also remain about the legality of deploying military forces inside U.S. cities, as a recent court ruling found Trump’s earlier National Guard deployment to Los Angeles violated federal law.