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President Donald Trump said Saturday he has authorized U.S. troops to protect Portland, Oregon, and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities from what he described as attacks by Antifa and other domestic extremists.
The decision came at the request of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
“At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect war-ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists,” Trump wrote. He added that he was “authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”
Trump earlier this week signed an executive order designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization following the Sept. 10 assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Officials have said shell casings tied to the accused shooter, Tyler Robinson, carried inscriptions referencing Antifa slogans, including the Italian protest song “Bella Ciao.”
“Because of the aforementioned pattern of political violence designed to suppress lawful political activity and obstruct the rule of law, I hereby designate Antifa as a ‘domestic terrorist organization,’” Trump wrote.
“All relevant executive departments and agencies shall utilize all applicable authorities to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle any and all illegal operations — especially those involving terrorist actions — conducted by Antifa or any person claiming to act on behalf of Antifa,” he added.
Vice President JD Vance pointed to unrest in Oregon as part of the administration’s justification for deploying additional federal resources. Speaking at an executive order signing on Thursday, Vance recalled “a federal building where there were men in black ski masks who were committing acts of violence, who were shutting down a government building.”
“These are paid people. This is organized,” Vance said. “They’re committing acts of political terrorism on American soil, and it’s time we had a government that looked out for the American people rather than the people who are committing violence against the American people.”
The president said the federal government would intervene directly if local authorities failed to restore order.
“These are crazy people, and they’re trying to burn down buildings, including federal buildings,” he said. “But we’re going to get out there, and we’re going to do a pretty big number on those people in Portland that are doing that. They’re professional agitators and anarchists. They’re actually anarchists.”