Trump Authorizes ‘Full Force’ in Portland Against a Problem That Doesn’t Exist

Donald Trump just can’t quit Portland. Over the weekend, he announced he’s deploying troops to Oregon’s largest city and even authorized “full force” against protesters if things escalate. He called Portland “war-ravaged,” as if it’s some battlefield instead of a U.S. city where families live, work, and send their kids to school.

In his Truth Social rant, Trump said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asked him for help and that he told “Secretary of War” Pete Hegseth to send in troops to protect ICE facilities from Antifa and “domestic terrorists.” First of all, there is no “Secretary of War”—that title hasn’t existed since World War II. The real position is Secretary of Defense. Trump can’t even get the titles of his own cabinet right while pretending to sound tough.

Second, Trump’s contradiction here is glaring. He keeps calling Portland a violent disaster zone while at the same time ignoring the actual facts. Crime in Portland has dropped dramatically this year. Homicides are down by 50%, along with rapes, robberies, and assaults. That’s not chaos—that’s progress. So which is it, Mr. Trump? Is Portland “war-ravaged,” or is it statistically safer than it’s been in years? He can’t have it both ways.

And then there’s his Antifa boogeyman. Just days ago, Trump announced Antifa is now a “domestic terrorist organization.” But here’s the problem: that’s legally impossible. U.S. law only allows terrorist designations for foreign groups. Antifa isn’t even an organization—it’s an ideology, a loose collection of activists without any official structure or leadership. Trump knows this. He’s been told this before. But he keeps repeating the lie because it fires up his base and gives him an excuse to militarize American cities.

So let’s call this what it is: pure political theater. Trump wants headlines about sending troops into liberal strongholds. He wants images of soldiers facing off against protesters so he can play the “law and order” strongman again. But the facts on the ground in Portland don’t match the fantasy he’s selling.

Trump’s contradictions expose the truth: he isn’t protecting the public—he’s protecting his political brand.