Trump Plans National Guard Deployment to Portland Amid Protest Claims

President Donald Trump has indicated that Portland, Oregon, could be the next city to receive National Guard troops amid concerns over protests and crime, following his recent deployments to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Trump’s comments were prompted by a television report, likely from Fox News, that conflated current small-scale anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests with larger unrest from 2020, leading him to believe the city is experiencing significant violence and destruction. He described the protesters as "paid terrorists" and "professional agitators," claiming they are funded by radical left groups and vowed to "wipe them out" if troops are deployed. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has firmly stated that the city has not requested federal intervention and does not need it, emphasizing the city's commitment to public safety while respecting the right to protest. Trump has also mentioned other cities such as Baltimore, Chicago, and New Orleans as potential targets for National Guard deployment, with New Orleans' Republican governor having requested federal assistance. Despite Trump stating he has decided on the next city for troop deployment, he has not disclosed which city it will be.