STORY: In a press conference on Saturday (September 27), Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, a Democrat, said U.S. President Donald Trump "does not have the authority to deploy federal troops" to Portland to protect federal immigration facilities.

"There is no insurrection, there is no threat to national security, and there is no need for military troops in our major city," Kotek said.

Ordering the latest crackdown on a Democrat-led city, Trump said in a social media post that he was directing Defense Secretary 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."

Violent crime in Portland has dropped in the first six months of 2025, data show. Homicides fell by 51% compared to the same period a year earlier, according to preliminary data released by the Major Cities Chiefs Association in its Midyear Violent Crime Report. That report showed Portland had 17 homicides in the period compared with 56 in Louisville, Kentucky, and 124 in Memphis, Tennessee, which have comparable population sizes.

In 2020, protests erupted in downtown Portland, the Pacific Northwest enclave with a reputation as a liberal city, following the killing in Minneapolis of George Floyd. The protests dragged on for months and some civic leaders at the time said they were spurred rather than quelled by Trump’s deployment of federal troops.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: PORTLAND, OREGON, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 27) (GOVERNOR TINA KOTEK HANDOUT – Access all)

1. SOUNDBITE (English) OREGON GOVERNOR, TINA KOTEK, SAYING:

“There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security and there is no need for military troops in our major city.”

2. WHITE FLASH

3. SOUNDBITE (English) OREGON GOVERNOR, TINA KOTEK, SAYING:

“We do not need or want federal troops in Oregon stoking fear, creaking conflict, and, frankly, escalating a situation that is under control. Any, any federal takeover with military troops in our state is a threat to communities across Oregon. It violates our right to govern ourselves, it interferes with local law enforcement’s ability to fulfil their mission, and frankly it drains taxpayer resources that could be better spent elsewhere. And again, I communicated that to the president directly. Oregon is our home, it is not a military target. Any deployment would be a misuse of power and a misuse of federal troops.”

4. WHITE FLASH

“I just want to wrap up by saying I believe the president does not have the authority to deploy federal troops on state soil. I am coordinating with Attorney General Dan Rayfield to see if any response is necessary and we will be prepared to respond if we have to."