Donald Trump told reporters he might send National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, after being misled by a TV report that inaccurately portrayed the scale of recent protests. The report used footage from 2020, falsely presenting it as current.
“I saw something today and didn’t realize this was still happening, but what’s going on in Portland is unbelievable,” Trump said. He incorrectly claimed to have seen video evidence of “the destruction of the city.”
In reality, small protests have taken place this year outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in a remote part of Portland, attracting at most a few dozen people. This is far smaller than the massive 2020 demonstrations, which drew thousands to tens of thousands of people to the city center for months after the police killing of George Floyd.
When asked by a reporter if he planned to intervene in Portland, Trump replied, “I’ll look into it now because I didn’t know it was still going on. This has been going on for years.” He explained that he had been led to believe the large-scale 2020 protests were continuing.
“We can stop that very easily,” Trump said. “It wasn’t on my list, but after watching TV last night, I see it’s still happening.”
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson responded in a statement, saying, “Like other mayors across the country, I have not asked for—and do not need—federal intervention. Portland police have successfully protected free speech while addressing occasional violence and property damage during protests at the ICE facility. We expect protests to continue in that area, and Portland will continue to stand up for our community and rights as a sanctuary city.”
Trump did not specify which news report influenced him, but Fox News aired a segment on Thursday that mixed recent footage of a small protest with a 2020 viral video of a protester being pepper-sprayed, incorrectly stating it happened this June. The report focused on a Tuesday protest where dozens of demonstrators brought a guillotine as a prop before federal officers used chemical agents.
Trump repeated a baseless conspiracy theory, calling the protesters “paid terrorists” and “paid agitators.” He claimed, “I’m very good at this stuff. These are professional agitators paid by radical left groups.” He pointed to well-made protest signs as supposed evidence, adding, “They’re very dangerous, and if we go to Portland, we’ll wipe them out. They’ve ruined that city.”
He described an imaginary version of Portland as “like living in hell,” though in reality, fences around the federal courthouse—a focal point of the 2020 protests—have been removed, and the police headquarters no longer has boarded-up windows.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield warned that the state would take action if Trump sent troops, noting, “While some threats from the Trump administration may be new or surprising, this one is not—we’ve been prepared.”“We have been preparing to respond since Trump returned to office,” Rayfield said. “California demonstrated how effective our approach can be in stopping federal overreach. Oregon is a safe place, and we plan to keep it that way. The president may have significant power, but he must stay within his limits—and if he doesn’t, we will hold him accountable.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the topic written in a clear and natural tone
General Beginner Questions
1 What exactly happened with Trump and Portland
In July 2020 thenPresident Trump threatened to send federal troops to Portland Oregon to quell ongoing protests claiming local authorities had lost control of the situation
2 Why did he want to send troops to a US city
He stated it was to protect federal property like the courthouse and to restore law and order arguing that the city and states Democratic leadership were allowing violence and chaos to continue
3 What was the video that misled him
The specific video is often debated but it was reportedly an old or misrepresented clip circulating online that allegedly showed violent acts by protesters It was used to justify a heavyhanded federal response but it did not accurately represent the current or overall situation in Portland
4 Was he legally allowed to do that
Its a complex area of law The President can federalize the National Guard or deploy federal agents to protect federal property However deploying activeduty military for domestic law enforcement is extremely rare and legally contentious without a states invitation which Oregons governor explicitly did not give
Advanced Detailed Questions
5 Whats the difference between federal agents and military troops
Federal agents are law enforcement officers who can make arrests and investigate crimes primarily focused on protecting federal assets
Military troops are trained for combat Using them for domestic policing is a major escalation and is generally prohibited by the Posse Comitatus Act except in extreme circumstances like an insurrection
6 How did state and local officials in Oregon react
They were overwhelmingly opposed Oregons Governor Portlands Mayor and other leaders demanded the immediate withdrawal of federal agents calling their presence an occupation and an escalation that inflamed tensions rather than calming them
7 What were the practical consequences of sending federal agents
Their tactics which included pulling protesters into unmarked vans were widely criticized Many argued their presence intensified the protests drew more people into the streets and raised serious concerns about civil liberties and the use of federal power against US citizens
