In a bold response to rising unrest, President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he is deploying troops to Portland, Oregon, to defend Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities from attacks associated with the activist group Antifa, the Daily Caller reported.
This action addresses ongoing violent riots targeting ICE buildings and law enforcement, leading to Trump’s order to secure what he describes as a "war-ravaged" Portland.
The decision follows Trump’s statement on September 17 via Truth Social, where he branded Antifa as a "DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER" and classified it as a major terrorist organization.
Since that declaration, violence has surged, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reporting weeks of riots at ICE locations, including a significant terrorist incident at a facility in Dallas.
DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin underscored the urgency, stating, "President Trump and Secretary Noem are taking action to restore law and order following weeks of violent riots at ICE facilities, assaults on law enforcement, and the terrorist attack at our ICE facility in Dallas."
She added, "We are not going to allow domestic terrorists to attack our law enforcement."
In Portland, DHS noted repeated assaults on an ICE processing center since late June 2025, alongside earlier major disturbances against ICE in Los Angeles.
A White House official cited over six aggressive protest incidents in Portland from June to September, some linked to Antifa and others reportedly tied to a group supported by George Soros’s Open Society.
These acts involved arson, attacks on officers, and a chilling threat with a guillotine at an ICE site.
The White House official also faulted Oregon Democrats, such as Gov. Tina Kotek and Multnomah County Senior Judge Ellen Rosenblum, for what they see as a weak reaction to the growing violence in Portland.
Portland, under Democratic control since 1993 with a fully Democratic city council, has long been a center for such conflicts, highlighted by the actions of the local Rose City Antifa.
This group is admitted to a 2019 attack on journalist Andy Ngo, causing him severe injury, and DHS claims they have exposed ICE officers’ personal data online while issuing death threats.
Responding to a request from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Trump issued a Saturday morning directive on Truth Social to 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 further stated in the post, "I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary," indicating a firm stance on the matter.
Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell affirmed military preparedness, saying, "We stand ready to mobilize U.S. military personnel in support of DHS operations in Portland at the President’s direction. The Department will provide information and updates as they become available."
