Trump says National Guard is "ready to act" in taking control of Portland

On social media today, US President Donald Trump called Portland “out of control” and said the National Guard is “ready to act.”

“Portland, which is out of control, should finally, after almost 3 months, bring in the National Guard,” reads President Trump’s tweet from Monday. “The Mayor and Governor are putting people’s lives at risk. They will be held responsible”

“The Guard is ready to act immediately. The Courthouse is secured by Homeland!”

Portland, which is out of control, should finally, after almost 3 months, bring in the National Guard. The Mayor and Governor are putting people’s lives at risk. They will be held responsible. The Guard is ready to act immediately. The Courthouse is secured by Homeland!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2020

Previously, Mayor Wheeler made public requests to Oregon Governor Kate Brown, regarding the deployment of the National Guard. To which the Governor insisted that more armed officers are not the solution, before deploying small numbers in hopes of securing some of the buildings being targeted by protesters.

This message comes just over a week after Homeland Security agents and federal officers agreed to leave the policing of the protests and demonstration in Portland up to the local and state police.

Protests in the downtown area have not slowed in recent days, surpassing the 70th-straight night of demonstrations. Most of which have resulted in physical and harmful clashes with riot gear-clad law enforcement.

• See also:
  • Homeland Security says Oregon State Police will replace federal presence
  • VP Pence agrees to withdraw federal officers in Portland: Gov. Brown
  • Mayor Wheeler tear-gassed by federal agents at Portland protest

Today’s tweet from Trump was published hours before his Coronavirus Task Force press update, which was interrupted by the Secret Service who took the president away following a shooting outside the White House walls.

On Friday, Trump made other comments on the state of the protests in Portland during a press conference in which the president called Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler “Mayor Wayland”, mentioning that the Mayor had “come a long way” in seeing from Trump’s point-of-view regarding demonstrators.

Trump also used terms like “attempted murder” when referring to the acts of protesters in Portland.

Left-wing violent extremism is a serious threat to American lives and American freedom.

President @realDonaldTrump on the violence in Portland: pic.twitter.com/oMouVwv9un

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 8, 2020