President Donald Trump intends to send troops to Portland, and has authorized “full force” to handle political demonstrations which he says have ruined the city, he announced Saturday. In an statement posted on his social media, Trump said that federal troops are being send to Oregon to protect Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facilities, which have been the site of political protests for weeks. “At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trending Which Starbucks locations are closing in Portland? Oregon Zoo bids farewell to polar bear, welcomes new arrival Trump’s decision is similar to other actions he has made in recent months, sending federal troops to California and Washington, D.C. It’s not immediately clear what legal basis Trump is using for his decision, nor did he specify which branch of the military would be involved. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said Friday that federal officers are not needed and not wanted in the city. “We did not ask for them to come,” Wilson said. Portland, which has a long history of progressive politics, has been a political talking point for Trump and the political right for years. This week, Trump signed an order designating the political organization Antifa as domestic terrorists. “Individuals associated with and acting on behalf of Antifa further coordinate with other organizations and entities for the purpose of spreading, fomenting, and advancing political violence and suppressing lawful political speech,” Trump’s order read. Earlier this week, the president called political activists in the city “professional agitators and anarchists.” Trending ‘Not what they signed up for’: Political scientist slams Trump’s military threat against Portland Gresham footballer continues to recover from serious neck injury “We’re going to get out there and we’re going to do a pretty big number on those people in Portland,” Trump said. U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, a Democrat whose district includes much of Portland, blasted the announcement as “an egregious abuse of power and a betrayal of our most basic American values.” “Authoritarians rely on fear to divide us. Portland will not give them that,” she wrote. “We will not be intimidated. We have prepared for this moment since Trump first took office, and we will meet it with every tool available to us: litigation, legislation, and the power of peaceful Beloud