Trump said on social media that he is sending troops to Portland, Oregon to protect immigrant facilities.
Memphis leaders urge Trump’s National Guard to reject proposals
Members of the Memphis City Council have called on Gov. Bill Lee to reject President Donald Trump’s plans to send National Guard.
President Donald Trump said he is escalating an aggressive campaign to send troops to Portland, Oregon, and using them in US soil.
“At the request of Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem, I direct War Secretary Pete Hegses to provide all the troops needed to protect the war-torn Portland, he said in the Truth Social Post on September 27th.
A spokesperson for Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Democrat Gov. Tina Kotek did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In Portland, the mayor is a nonpartisan position.
Like states across the country, federal agents and protesters clashed regularly outside Portland’s ice buildings.
At a press conference on September 26, local officials urged residents not to respond to the rise in federal officers in the city.
According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, Democrat Sen. Jeff Markley said “don’t take bait.” At the same press conference, Wilson said, “This could be a show of power, but that’s all. It’s just a big show.”
Other officials said the influx was intended to lead protesters into conflict.
The post does not specify that Trump intends to activate another part of the National Guard or military, or that he meant by saying that he would “permit full power if necessary.”
The White House, the Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to emails requesting explanations.
Trump previously deployed the National Guard in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, and amid strong criticism from Democrats on those areas and legal agendas, Trump’s orders were only welcomed by the governor in Memphis.
Earlier in September, Trump described his life in Portland as “like living in hell,” saying he was considering sending federal forces. He poses similar threats in other Democratic-led cities, including Chicago and Baltimore.
Since the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Trump has denounced the “radical left” on the country’s issues regarding political violence. In a memo on Thursday ordered the crackdown on allegations of “organized political violence,” Trump wrote that “riots” in Portland and Los Angeles led to a significant increase in attacks on ice agents.
