President Donald Trump has issued orders for the deployment of troops with ‘full force’ against demonstrators in yet another American city. The directive, justified as a measure against “domestic terrorists,” is specifically targeted at individuals protesting the conduct and aggressive methods of immigration officers in Portland, Oregon.
The announcement was made on Trump’s Truth Social platform, where he emphasized the necessity of safeguarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, which he claimed were under threat from attacks by groups like Antifa and other alleged domestic terrorists. The term “Antifa,” originally referring to anti-fascist activists, has been redefined by the Trump administration to portray it as a cohesive organization with members and leaders, rather than a general ideology.
Trump has taken steps to officially designate Antifa as a ‘domestic terror’ group, sparking concerns that this classification could be exploited to suppress any dissenting protests against his administration and policies. Details such as the timeline for troop deployment and the specific units involved were not immediately provided by the White House in response to inquiries.
Earlier threats by Trump to dispatch the National Guard to Chicago went unfulfilled. The upcoming deployment in Memphis, Tennessee, is anticipated to involve around 150 troops, a significantly smaller contingent compared to previous mobilizations in response to immigration demonstrations in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Pentagon officials did not promptly respond to requests for further information on the matter. Trump’s intensified efforts to combat what he labels the “radical left” and political violence in the wake of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination have seen the deployment of National Guard and active-duty Marines in cities like Los Angeles and the nation’s capital.
The ICE facility in Portland has been a focal point for frequent protests, at times escalating into violent confrontations resulting in injuries to federal agents and charges of assault against some protesters. The Department of Homeland Security condemned the erection of a guillotine during recent protests as “unhinged behavior.”
In a recent statement, Trump hinted at an upcoming operation targeting protesters in Portland, referring to them as “professional agitators and anarchists.” The Mirror has introduced a US Politics WhatsApp community to provide real-time updates and exclusive news from America. To join, users need to have WhatsApp installed on their phones and follow the provided link.
In September, Trump likened living in Portland to a nightmare and contemplated sending federal troops, a move not requested by Portland’s mayor, Keith Wilson, who affirmed the city’s commitment to upholding free expression while addressing sporadic violence and property damage.
Memphis is bracing for the deployment of National Guard troops to bolster law enforcement efforts, as announced by Republican Governor Bill Lee, who is coordinating resources to combat crime in the city.