White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended President Trump’s plans to deploy troops in American cities, facing questions from CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins regarding the legal challenges. The plans were in response to anti-ICE protests in cities like Portland and Chicago, but a judge blocked the Portland deployment citing the administration’s claims of violence were unsubstantiated. Leavitt criticized the judge’s ruling and accused Collins of bias, insisting the president had the authority to deploy troops. The administration’s use of military force in Democratic cities has been growing, often facing legal battles, and increasing tensions.
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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced that the US Department of Defense issued an ultimatum, threatening to federalize 300 National Guard troops in Chicago unless the state deployed its own troops. This move follows President Trump’s plans to utilize certain cities as military training grounds, despite declining crime rates in areas where federal troops have already been deployed. Pritzker condemned the demand as un-American, emphasizing the lack of need for military presence in Illinois and vowing to defend the state’s residents. Meanwhile, reports also surfaced of leaked plans to send the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to Portland.
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A senior White House official, Anthony Salisbury, inadvertently revealed plans to deploy the 82nd Airborne Division to Portland via Signal messages. The Minnesota Star Tribune obtained images of the messages, which were sent to other high-ranking officials, including a senior adviser to the US defense secretary, discussing the potential deployment due to potential backlash of using the army. While the defense secretary initially preferred the National Guard, Trump’s administration ultimately deployed 200 members of the National Guard, contradicting initial reports. This incident adds to a pattern of intelligence leaks within the Trump administration, highlighting security concerns.
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A White House official inadvertently revealed plans to deploy the 82nd Airborne Division to Portland while using Signal in a public space. The official, a top deputy to Stephen Miller, discussed the deployment with other officials, including an advisor who stated that the deployment would likely generate significant headlines. Ultimately, the administration sent National Guard soldiers to Portland instead. This incident follows a previous breach of secure communication earlier in the year, adding to the scrutiny surrounding the administration’s communication practices.
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Following President Trump’s suggestion to use cities like Chicago as military training grounds, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called for the invocation of the 25th Amendment, citing concerns about the president’s mental health. Pritzker’s comments were in response to the potential deployment of 100 military troops in Illinois to protect ICE agents and facilities. While the White House has not addressed Pritzker’s calls directly, the governor has signaled his intent to legally challenge any federal troop deployment, as legal teams are prepared to contest the deployment. The potential deployment could involve the Illinois National Guard and be implemented within days.
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To bolster security at the upcoming European summits in Copenhagen, France, Germany, and Sweden are deploying military personnel and anti-drone systems. Sweden will send police and radar units, while France will provide a Fennec helicopter and a team specializing in anti-drone operations. Germany will contribute soldiers equipped to detect and neutralize drones. This collaborative effort, prompted by recent drone incursions, will run until October 7, aiming to safeguard the summits and counter aerial threats.
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President Trump, in a Truth Social post, directed the Secretary of Defense to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, escalating his use of military deployments in US cities, despite legal challenges. This follows deployments to Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and Memphis, with local officials condemning the actions as provocative and unauthorized. Trump’s authority to deploy troops is legally dubious, violating the Posse Comitatus Act and facing legal setbacks, as a federal judge has already ruled against a similar deployment to Los Angeles. Civil liberties experts warn that Trump’s actions, including designating “Antifa” as a domestic terrorism organization, could be used to suppress progressive groups and pose a significant threat to American democracy.
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President Trump announced on Saturday the deployment of troops to Portland, Oregon, citing the city as “war ravaged” and intending to protect ICE detention facilities, a directive made to the Department of War. This announcement followed a deadly attack at a detention facility in Dallas, which federal authorities said was carried out by a gunman seeking to terrorize ICE workers. Local officials, however, dispute the president’s claims of unsafety and have not been informed of a military mission, requesting residents to remain calm. The Pentagon has yet to issue a deployment order, but the chief Pentagon spokesman stated the department is ready to mobilize personnel in support of DHS operations.
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President Trump has announced his intention to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, in response to what he perceives as a need to address crime and protect federal facilities from Antifa and other “domestic terrorists”. This directive follows the designation of Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, which expands the administration’s tools to pursue the group. Local officials, including Portland’s mayor and Oregon’s governor, have stated they do not need federal intervention and have raised concerns about the president’s authority to deploy troops. The deployment timeline and specifics of the troops involved remain unclear at this time.
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President Trump has directed military troops to Portland, Oregon, at the request of the Secretary of Homeland Security. He stated that these troops are to protect federal facilities from Antifa and other alleged domestic terrorists. Furthermore, Trump authorized the use of “full force” if deemed necessary during the deployment. The announcement was made via a post on Truth Social.
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John Q. Hosedrinker