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Democratic Oregon Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden reacted on Saturday after President Donald Trump announced he planned to send troops to Portland, the most populous city in their state.
“Trump is launching an authoritarian takeover of Portland hoping to provoke conflict in my hometown,” Wyden wrote on social media. “I urge Oregonians to reject Trump’s attempt to incite violence in what we know is a vibrant and peaceful city.”
He added he would do “everything” in his power to “protect the people in our state.”
Trump is launching an authoritarian takeover of Portland hoping to provoke conflict in my hometown. I urge Oregonians to reject Trump’s attempt to incite violence in what we know is a vibrant and peaceful city. I will do everything in my power to protect the people in our state. https://t.co/qT1gG1u270
— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) September 27, 2025Merkley similarly accused the president of stoking violence, and echoed Wyden’s calls for peace, in a statement of his own.
“Trump is sending troops to Portland with the goal of ’doing a number’ on the city,” Merkley said. “We know what this means. He wants to stoke fear and chaos and trigger violent interactions and riots to justify expanded authoritarian control. Let’s not take the bait!”
Trump is sending troops to Portland with the goal of “doing a number” on the city.
We know what this means. He wants to stoke fear and chaos and trigger violent interactions and riots to justify expanded authoritarian control.
Let’s not take the bait!
Portland is peaceful… pic.twitter.com/xIA7JRX1f2
Their comments came the same day Trump announced via Truth Social that his administration would be sending “all necessary” troops to “protect” what he described as “War ravaged Portland,” as well as Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facilities, from “domestic terrorists.”
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He noted in his post that he was “authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”
The city’s ICE facility has been the site of protests in recent months in response to the Trump administration’s national immigration crackdown.
Trump previously sent National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and both National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles. He has also threatened to send troops into Chicago and to Memphis, Tennessee.
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