The Chief of the Oregon National Guard, Brigadier General Alan R. Gronewold, has ignited significant controversy after announcing that his personnel would be tasked with safeguarding protesters at federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. This stance directly contradicts directives from President Donald Trump.
Gronewold’s statements, made during a recent session of the Oregon Senate’s Veterans and Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee, have resurfaced following ongoing deliberations in a federal appeals court regarding Trump’s authority to deploy the Guard in Portland amid the continuous protests against ICE, as reported by The Mirror US.
“I cannot predict the specifics of the training or the parameters of force that will be authorized, as those details will come from Title 10 headquarters. However, I understand crowd control will be part of their training, and I intend to advise the Title 10 commander,” said Gronewold.
Gronewold emphasized: “The Oregon National Guard serves two purposes: to defend America and to protect Oregonians. Thus, in this assignment, they will also protect protesters at the ICE facility, and that is my wish.”
“In response to the term ‘full force,’ let me clarify that it is not a recognized doctrine of the Army, and I don’t intend to guess what level of force may be permissible,” he added.
LOST IN TRANSLATION? Gronewold asserts that he carries a dual obligation to safeguard both America’s integrity and the rights of Oregonians—including the very protesters he acknowledges could be viewed by some as insurgents. If called to federal duty, it seems he would stand between them and the law. pic.twitter.com/VmRjZGGrYJ
— @amuse (@amuse) October 8, 2025
Gronewold’s remarks have not gone unnoticed, drawing sharp criticism from various corners, with detractors labeling his statements as insubordination—or worse, an act of treason against the Commander-in-Chief.
“Charge this treasonous General with Court Martial,” tweeted Roger Stone, a figure emblematic of the staunchest defenders of Trump’s authority.
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) October 9, 2025
“It’s absurd to claim he can ‘protect’ individuals disregarding the law. Under the law, there are consequences for illegal actions. This sounds like sedition,” remarked journalist Lara Logan.
— Lara Logan (@laralogan) October 9, 2025
Retired Colonel Rob Maness weighed in: “His allegiance is to the Constitution, not to those who defy it.”
— Col. Rob Maness ret. (@RobManess) October 9, 2025
“A spineless attempt to avoid taking a stand,” commented Wendy Rogers, urging the Secretary of War to take decisive action against Gronewold.
— Wendy Rogers (@WendyRogersAZ) October 9, 2025
“If he is federalized, I foresee him facing a court martial and losing his command,” warned one user.
— awakened (@awakene44042307) October 9, 2025
Jim Hight is the founder and editor of The Gateway Pundit, which has risen as a prominent conservative news platform in America. Hight has received the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award in 2013 and proudly holds the Breitbart Award for Excellence in Online Journalism from the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, awarded in May 2016.
You can email Jim Hight here, and read more of Jim Hight’s articles here.
