President Trump made the announcement to send troops to Portland on social media saying the decision is necessary to protect U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement facilities from domestic terrorists.
President Trump has previously deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles and the District of Columbia as a part of his crackdown on crime. That earlier deployment led to repeated clashes between demonstrators and federal officers, drawing national attention and criticism. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has pushed back against federal involvement. “I have not asked for – and do not need – federal intervention,” he said earlier this month.
Trump hinted at the upcoming action, telling reporters, “We’re going to get out there and we’re going to do a pretty big number on those people in Portland.” He referred to the targets as “professional agitators and anarchists.”