Washington – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of federal troops to Portland, Oregon, authorising what he called a “full force” response to ongoing protests and unrest in the city.
The decision marks one of the most aggressive federal interventions in local affairs in recent years, sparking immediate backlash from state and city officials. Trump defended the move as necessary to restore law and order, accusing local leaders of losing control. “We will not allow anarchists and agitators to destroy our cities. If local officials won’t act, we will,” he said during a televised statement.
Portland has been a flashpoint of political and social tensions, with months of demonstrations over policing, racial justice, and federal overreach. The protests, which began largely peacefully, have at times escalated into clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, with property damage and sporadic violence fueling national debate.
Under Trump’s order, federal law enforcement officers and military support units will be deployed to assist local authorities. He has given them broad powers to “protect federal property and ensure public safety,” raising concerns about potential confrontations between federal forces and demonstrators.
Oregon’s governor and Portland’s mayor condemned the move, calling it a dangerous escalation. “This is not help — this is provocation,” Governor Kate Brown said, warning that the presence of federal troops could inflame tensions rather than ease them.
Civil rights groups also criticized the decision, pointing to previous incidents in 2020 when unidentified federal agents detained protesters, sparking outrage and legal challenges. Many fear a repeat of those tactics, which critics argued violated constitutional protections.
Trump’s supporters, however, praised the move as decisive leadership, saying strong action was overdue to control unrest in Portland. The deployment is expected to begin within days, setting the stage for a potentially volatile confrontation between protesters and federal forces.
Political analysts say the decision reflects Trump’s tough-on-crime strategy and his efforts to project strength on domestic security issues — a theme that has remained central to his political identity. As tensions rise, Portland once again finds itself at the center of a national debate over protest, policing, and presidential power.