Trump Sends Troops Into Portland Citing ‘Antifa Hellfire’ as Judge Weighs Restraining Order

PORTLAND, Ore. — Federal troops are headed for Portland, as confirmed by a White House press release on Tuesday, claiming that ‘Antifa-led hellfire’ has resulted in premeditated anarchy that has scarred the city for years, despite the fact that a restraining order against the deployment is set to be heard in court on Friday.

Federal Troops Heading To Portland Despite Lawsuit

Following Sunday’s memorandum from the Federal Department of War taking control of the Oregon National Guard, the Oregon AG sued to block Trump from seizing power, asking the court to issue a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to pause the deployment, amongst other things.

Tuesday’s White House statement indicated that federal troops were headed to Portland to stop ‘Antifa-led hellfire’  as Trump invoked a narrative of a city wracked by anarchy that Trump claims has left officers battered, citizens terrorized, and property defaced.

Trump said, “It’s obvious what’s happening in Portland isn’t protest.”  Violent crime has dropped significantly in the Rose City over the past couple of years after reaching record highs during the pandemic.

Also on Tuesday, at a gathering of generals, Trump also suggested that National Guard deployments across the U.S. could support the Defense Department, and they “should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military.”

While Trump was hinting at a broader purpose outside their stated goal of protecting federal buildings and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, the Judge set a hearing date for the TRO lawsuit to block the National Guard deployment to Portland, which will be heard this Friday.

In the meantime, demonstrators, who began gathering in front of the ICE building in South Portland in June to protest the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, continue their protest. Although the turnout typically amounted to a few dozen people before Trump’s Saturday announcement, the protest persists.

In a Zoom on Sunday, Governor Tina Kotek, AG Dan Rayfield, and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson confirmed that they are fighting back against the deployment of the Oregon National Guard.