ProPublica found that Fox News falsely portrayed old footage from 2020 protests as current events in Portland while covering resistance to the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The network aired a segment on September 4th, using clips from July 2020 of clashes between law enforcement and protesters outside a federal courthouse, alongside footage of an American flag burning. None of the footage was accurately labeled, implying it was current and in a different location. The network later added an editor’s note clarifying that the report utilized footage from 2020 and 2025.
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Sunday’s demonstration in Portland, Oregon, marked three months of intensified unrest, as anti-ICE protesters and counterprotesters clashed near an ICE center. Counterprotesters, some wearing Trump-branded attire, carried banners and sang patriotic songs, while protesters across the street voiced their opposition to the administration’s immigration policies. Federal agents observed the demonstration, occasionally using pepper balls on the crowd. The city is currently awaiting an appeals court ruling regarding the deployment of federalized National Guard troops.
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A right-wing news outlet recently “unmasked” a protester named Seth Todd, who has been demonstrating against the Trump administration’s actions in Portland, Oregon while wearing a frog costume. Todd explained that his motivations stem from a desire to protect his community from inhumane treatment and to challenge the administration’s narrative of Portland being “war-ravaged.” Other Portland residents have also employed costumes to confront ICE agents, and another demonstrator believes that using humor and absurdity undermines the administration’s fear-mongering tactics. Despite the peaceful nature of the protests, federal agents have used force, including pepper spray, against the demonstrators.
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In response to President Trump’s mischaracterization of Portland as a violent and chaotic city, local residents have embraced a unique form of protest. These activists are countering Trump’s rhetoric by dancing and wearing costumes in front of federal law enforcement, challenging the president’s narrative of fear. The creative protests serve to refute Trump’s claims and demonstrate a lack of intimidation. Fact-checking efforts and statements from local officials, like Mayor Keith Wilson and Governor Tina Kotek, further expose the inaccuracies of Trump’s statements about the city’s conditions.
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Recently resurfaced testimony from Brigadier General Alan R. Gronewold before Oregon lawmakers has sparked debate amidst uncertainty surrounding President Trump’s troop deployment plans in Portland. Gronewold stated that National Guard soldiers were to be trained in “protective crowd control” and would be present to protect protesters. The general also clarified that the soldiers, under federalization, would fall under the control of the U.S. Northern Command and not his chain of command. This is while the court is deciding on Trump’s ability to deploy troops from other states.
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Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem visited Portland, Oregon, where she surveyed a small group of protesters, described by some as an “army of Antifa.” Accompanied by conservative influencer Benny Johnson, Noem viewed the demonstration from the roof of an ICE facility, the site of recent protests. The scene consisted of roughly a dozen people, including photojournalists, protesters, and even a man in a chicken costume, prompting mockery from liberal commentators. Despite the administration’s characterization of the protests as dangerous, the actual scene appeared far less dramatic, with critics highlighting the disparity between the described threat and the reality on the ground.
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Following a judge’s decision to prevent the Oregon National Guard from deploying to Portland, the Oregon Republican party celebrated the planned deployment of 300 California National Guard troops. Social media posts by the party utilized an image falsely depicting the Portland protests as out of control by combining photos from South America, taken in 2008 and 2017. When questioned about the image’s authenticity, the party’s X account admitted they were “just bad memers.”
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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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Saturday saw federal agents employing chemical crowd control and making at least six arrests when a protest of hundreds marched to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building. Approximately 400 individuals of various ages and backgrounds participated in the demonstration, which was a response to potential National Guard deployment in the city. During the protest, federal officers, equipped with gas masks, dispersed the crowd using pepper balls and tear gas.
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President Trump has declared his intention to utilize American cities as training grounds for military forces, specifically naming Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York as targets. This directive has led to an increased federal presence in these cities, including deployments of National Guard troops and heavily armed agents in tactical gear, often operating from unmarked vehicles. Local officials, however, contest Trump’s characterization of these cities as unsafe, with Oregon’s Attorney General suing to block the deployments, citing violations of the Posse Comitatus Act. Legal experts and commentators are raising concerns about constitutional implications, particularly regarding potential racial profiling and the expanding role of federal law enforcement.
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John Q. Hosedrinker