Oregon Governor Kotek Rejects Federal Troop Deployment, Citing "No National Security Threat"

Portland, Oregon – Oregon Governor Tina Kotek emphatically rejected President Donald Trump's decision to deploy federal troops to Portland, stating the move would "stok[e] fear, creat[e] conflict, and escalat[e] a situation that is under control." The governor's remarks came on Saturday, September 27, 2025, following President Trump's announcement on social media that he was authorizing "Full Force" to protect federal facilities in what he described as "war-ravaged Portland."

Governor Kotek conveyed her stance directly to President Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, asserting that "Portland and the state of Oregon believe in the rule of law, and we can manage our own local public safety needs." She emphasized that there is "no insurrection, there is no threat to national security, and there is no need for military troops in our major city." The governor also confirmed that she is coordinating with Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield to explore potential legal responses should federal troops be deployed.

President Trump's directive, announced via Truth Social, instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to provide "all necessary Troops" to safeguard Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, which he claimed were "under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists." This move follows earlier deployments of federal personnel to other U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, where a federal judge previously ruled a National Guard deployment illegal.

Local officials echoed Governor Kotek's concerns. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson stated that "the number of necessary troops is zero," and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden urged Oregonians "not to fall into Trump's attempt to incite violence." However, some Republican officials, including U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, supported the president's action, characterizing Portland as a "crime-ridden war zone" and thanking Trump for "taking action to keep our ICE facilities protected."

The deployment threat has reignited debates over federal intervention in local matters and the appropriate use of military force domestically. Governor Kotek and other state leaders maintain that current protests around the ICE facility are significantly smaller than the 2020 demonstrations and do not warrant federal military intervention, which they believe could exacerbate tensions rather than resolve them.