Trump defends National Guard deployment amid 'lawless mayhem' in Portland

President Donald Trump on Wednesday doubled down on his deployment of the National Guard in Oregon, asserting that it was necessary in light of Antifa impeding federal law enforcement.

Portland has long been a focal point for violent left-wing rioters and attracted considerable attention during the George Floyd riots, with many members of Antifa attacking a federal courthouse. Trump declared Antifa a domestic terrorist organization in September.

"As I determined on September 27th, when I activated and called into service the National Guard in Oregon, conditions continue to deteriorate into lawless mayhem. Our GREAT Federal Law Enforcement Officers have not been able to enforce the Laws in Oregon," he posted on Truth Social.

"ANTIFA and the Radical Left Anarchists have been viciously attacking our Federal Law Enforcement Officers, men and women who are simply doing their job, protecting Federal Property, and enforcing Federal Immigration Laws and the Rule of Law," he added. "We will never allow MOBS to take over our streets, burn our Cities, or destroy America. The National Guard is now in place, and has been dedicated to restoring LAW AND ORDER, and ending the Chaos, Death, and Destruction! We are a Nation of LAW, and we will PREVAIL."

He further excoriated Gov. Tina Kotek, D-Ore., who denied the necessity of the deployment and insisted the situation in Portland was under control. 

"The Governor of Oregon must be living in a 'Dream World.' Portland is a NEVER-ENDING DISASTER," he said in a follow up post. "Many people have been badly hurt, and even killed. It is run like a Third World Country. We’re only going in because, as American Patriots, WE HAVE NO CHOICE. LAW AND ORDER MUST PREVAIL IN OUR CITIES, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE!"

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.