On Sunday, President Trump ordered the deployment of 300 National Guard troops from California to Portland, Oregon, directly disregarding a federal ruling that prohibited such an action. This prompted California Governor Gavin Newsom to launch a lawsuit in retaliation.
“Following a federal court’s decision that blocked his bid to federalize the Oregon National Guard, Donald Trump is sending 300 California National Guard members to Oregon,” Newsom stated on X, subsequently branding the move as “un-American.”
“They are en route at this moment. We are taking this matter back to court. The public cannot remain silent in the face of such reckless and authoritarian conduct from the President of the United States,” he asserted.
This sharp statement came just hours after a federal judge temporarily restrained the Trump administration from proceeding with the deployment of 200 Oregon National Guard troops to the city, which had been experiencing ongoing protests against ICE operations for over 100 consecutive days.
Earlier in the week, Trump directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to deploy “all necessary troops” to Portland, utilizing “full force” to protect immigration officials from what he termed “domestic terrorists.”
Oregon promptly filed a lawsuit to prevent the president from sending troops.
On Saturday, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, appointed by Trump, ruled that the deployment of active-duty troops to Portland would not only violate the U.S. Constitution but also infringe upon federal laws that restrict military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
She noted that Trump’s justification did not match the actual conditions of the protests taking place at the immigration center in South Portland.
“The protests were, overall, small and uneventful,” she stated in her decision.
“The President’s assertions were not based on the facts,” she added.
Immergut later expressed frustration over the Trump administration’s defiance of her court order, particularly regarding Hegseth’s authorization for the Texas National Guard to deploy to Oregon, according to Oregonlive.
During a late-night hearing on Sunday, she officially barred the deployment of National Guard members from any state to Oregon in light of Newsom’s lawsuit.
The governor, who has been publicly challenging the president on social media for months, celebrated the ruling.
“A federal judge HAS BLOCKED Donald Trump’s illegal attempt to SEND 300 OF OUR NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO PORTLAND,” he posted on X.
“The court granted our request for a Temporary Restraining Order – STOPPING ANY FEDERALIZATION, RELOCATION, OR DEPLOYMENT of ANY GUARD MEMBERS TO OREGON FROM ANY STATE,” he further wrote.
“Trump’s misuse of power will not be tolerated.”
The newly issued order will prevent any National Guard members from being sent from any state for federal duty in Oregon, affecting the California National Guard as well.
Initially, both states sought a more limited order that would have only blocked the California National Guard’s deployment to Oregon.
The White House defended Trump’s actions, asserting he utilized his “lawful authority.”
“President Trump exercised his legal authority to safeguard federal properties and personnel in Portland in response to violent riots and assaults against law enforcement,” a spokesperson told The Post.
“President Trump will not ignore lawlessness that is affecting American cities.”
Since June, disturbances have erupted in Portland, where Antifa groups in unusual costumes have been targeting and vandalizing an ICE detention center while engaging in violent confrontations with federal agents.
Officials from federal immigration agencies reported that their facility has faced nightly assaults, with protestors launching bottle rockets and rocks toward the building, while local law enforcement provided little support or enforcement, according to reports.
Protesters have also followed ICE personnel to their residences and published personal information about employees, stated Portland ICE office Director Cammila Wamsley in a Fox News interview this week.
On Saturday, prior to the judge’s decision, hundreds of demonstrators marched to the South Macadam Avenue detention center and clashed with federal agents, who responded by deploying tear gas, mace, and pepper spray, dispersing the crowd, local sources reported.
In reaction to ongoing violence, Trump instructed his administration on Friday to identify federal funding to cut from Portland, according to reports.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi also initiated an investigation into the Portland Police Bureau.
With contributions from Post wires.
