U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday he is deploying troops to Portland, Oregon, authorizing them to use “full force, if necessary,” to protect federal immigration facilities against what he called “domestic terrorists.”
Trump’s directive names Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as the executor of the order, instructing him to “provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege” from Antifa and other domestic threats. He declared that federal forces may employ “full force, if necessary,” though he provided no detailed rules of engagement or a timeline.
Portland’s mayor, Keith Wilson, responded swiftly, declaring that “the number of necessary troops is zero” in his city and warning against federal overreach. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said her office is seeking more information from the White House, emphasizing there is “no national security threat in Portland.”
Senator Ron Wyden accused Trump of reviving the 2020 playbook, sending troops into a Democratic city to provoke unrest. Meanwhile, the Pentagon stated it “stands ready to mobilize U.S. military personnel in support of DHS operations in Portland at the President’s direction.” But it offered no clarity on whether active-duty, National Guard, or mixed forces would be used.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the move is meant to protect ICE agents amid escalating protests against immigration raids. Trump’s announcement comes amid a broader push: in recent days he has characterised activists and protestors as “professional agitators” and blamed them for attempting to burn federal buildings, though his administration has presented no evidence publicly to support those claims.
During his earlier term, Trump had sent federal agents into Portland during the George Floyd protests, moves that were widely criticized for constitutional overreach and violation of laws limiting domestic military deployment.The legal and political stakes are high: deploying troops domestically is tightly constrained under U.S. law (e.g. the Posse Comitatus Act), and critics say this latest order may push those limits further.
This move also comes on the heels of Trump designating Antifa as a domestic “terrorist organization” last week, a decision that has drawn legal and civil liberties scrutiny.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Vice President JD Vance have arrived in Islamabad for talks aimed at eas...
Talks between the United States and Iran opened in Islamabad on Saturday (11 April) as the two sides sought to turn a fragile temporary ceasefir...
Ismail Omar Guelleh has been re-elected for a sixth term with 97.8% of the vote, according to state media, extending his nearly three-...
Kazakhstan and Armenia are moving to deepen bilateral ties as shifting dynamics in the South Caucasus reopen long-blocked transport routes and crea...
Australia and Singapore have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security as global fuel markets come under strain from disruption linked to the...
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Vice President JD Vance have arrived in Islamabad for talks aimed at easing regional tensions, as Pakistan hosts the discussions. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel are set to hold rare negotiations in Washington next Tuesday.
Ismail Omar Guelleh has been re-elected for a sixth term with 97.8% of the vote, according to state media, extending his nearly three-decade hold on power in the small but strategically significant East African nation.
Kazakhstan and Armenia are moving to deepen bilateral ties as shifting dynamics in the South Caucasus reopen long-blocked transport routes and create new economic opportunities.
Australia and Singapore have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security as global fuel markets come under strain from disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Vice President JD Vance have arrived in Islamabad for talks aimed at easing regional tensions, as Pakistan hosts the discussions. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel are set to hold rare negotiations in Washington next Tuesday.
Amid fragile calm, António Guterres urged constructive U.S.- Iran talks, while Pope Leo XIV warned violence is spreading. Lebanon's President said an Israeli strike killed 13 security personnel in Nabatieh.
Memorial events were held in Tehran’s main squares on Wednesday (8 April) to mark the 40th day since the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died during U.S.-Israeli attacks on 28 February.
Dubai has restricted foreign airlines to one daily flight to its airports until 31 May due to the Iran crisis, raising fears of significant revenue losses for Indian carriers, industry letters show.
Ismail Omar Guelleh has been re-elected for a sixth term with 97.8% of the vote, according to state media, extending his nearly three-decade hold on power in the small but strategically significant East African nation.
Australia and Singapore have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security as global fuel markets come under strain from disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Donald Trump’s flagship plan for post-war Gaza has come under scrutiny after reports that its financing is falling short of expectations, claims firmly rejected by the White House-backed Board of Peace.
A charity co-founded by Prince Harry in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana, is suing him for libel at the High Court in London, according to a court record published on Friday (10 April).
The European Union and Washington are nearing an agreement to coordinate the production and security of critical minerals, Bloomberg News reported on Friday (10 April).
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment