Trump, a Republican, cited New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore and Oakland, California, as places to send federal agents, noting the cities’ mayors were “liberal Democrats.”
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot frequently blasts Trump on Twitter.
“We’re sending law enforcement,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
Federal agents last week began cracking down on Portland protests against police brutality and systemic racism, using tear gas to defend federal buildings and taking some activists into custody without explanation.
These are anarchists,” Trump said of federal agents sent to the historically liberal city to quell often unruly protests.
Despite a national outcry over the tactics, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials on Monday said they would not back down and would not apologize.
“There is no place for federal troops or unidentified federal agents rounding people up at will,” tweeted U.S. »
