Trump defies federal court, sends 300 California National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon: ‘On their way there now’

Authored by nypost.com and submitted by SystematicApproach
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President Trump on Sunday deployed 300 California National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, defying a federal order blocking the move – and prompting Golden State Gov. Gavin Newsom to sue in response.

“After a federal court blocked his attempt to federalize the Oregon National Guard, Donald Trump is deploying 300 California National Guard personnel into Oregon,” Newson said in a post on X, later calling the order “un-American.”

“They are on their way there now. We are taking this fight back to court. The public cannot stay silent in the face of such reckless and authoritarian conduct by the President of the United States.”

Newsom’s fiery threat came hours after a federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administration from sending 200 Oregon National Guard troops to the “war ravaged” city that has been under siege by anti-ICE agitators for more than 100 straight days.

3 Federal agents, including members of the Department of Homeland Security, the Border Patrol, and police, clash with protesters outside a downtown Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on October 04, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. Getty Images

Last week, the commander in chief ordered Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to unleash “all necessary troops” to Portland and use “full force” to protect immigration authorities from “domestic terrorists.”

Oregon immediately sued to block the president from deploying the troops.

US District Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, ruled Saturday that deploying active-duty troops to Portland would not only violate the US Constitution but also defy federal law barring military involvement in domestic law enforcement.

She added that Trump’s order did not reflect the reality of the protests taking place at the immigration processing facility in south Portland.

“Overall, the protests were small and uneventful,” she wrote in her ruling.

“The President’s determination was simply untethered to the facts.”

3 President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump watch a naval sea power demonstration, part of the Navy’s 250th anniversary celebration, aboard the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Norfolk, Va., Sunday, Oct. 5, AP

Immergut later expressed frustration that the Trump administration had defied the court order and that Hegseth had authorized the Texas National Guard to enter the state, Oregonlive reported.

During a late-night Sunday hearing, she blocked the administration from deploying National Guard members from any state into Oregon after Newsom sued.

The governor – who has spent months trolling the president on social media – celebrated the new ruling.

“A federal judge BLOCKED Donald Trump’s unlawful attempt to DEPLOY 300 OF OUR NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO PORTLAND,” he posted on X.

“The court granted our request for a Temporary Restraining Order — HALTING ANY FEDERALIZATION, RELOCATION, OR DEPLOYMENT of ANY GUARD MEMBERS TO OREGON FROM ANY STATE,” he wrote.

“Trump’s abuse of power won’t stand.”

The broader order on Sunday will halt National Guard members from being relocated from any state for federal service in the state of Oregon, including the California National Guard.

The two states originally requested a narrower order that would have blocked only California National Guard troops from being sent to Oregon.

The White House defended Trump’s order, saying he exercised his “lawful authority.”

3 Law enforcement officers detain a protester as demonstrators gather in front of law enforcement officers during a protest at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters in Portland, Oregon, October 4, 2025. REUTERS

“President Trump exercised his lawful authority to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following violent riots and attacks on law enforcement,” a spokeswoman told The Post.

“President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities.”

Since June, unruly protests have ravaged Portland, with Antifa mobs in bizarre costumes swarming and vandalizing an ICE detention center and violently clashing with federal agents.

Federal immigration officials said the facility has endured nightly attacks, with agitators hurling bottle rockets and rocks at the building – while local police reportedly providing minimal support or enforcement.

Protesters have also followed ICE staff to their home and doxxed employees, Portland ICE office Director Cammila Wamsley told Fox News this week.

On Saturday before the judge’s ruling, hundreds of protesters marched to the South Macadam Avenue detention center and clashed with federal agents, who fired tear gas, mace, and pepper spray, scattering the crowd, according to local reports.

In response to the ongoing unrest, Trump on Friday ordered his administration to identify federal funds to cut in Portland.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi also launched an investigation into the Portland Police Bureau.

GingerMoonbeam- on October 5th, 2025 at 21:01 UTC »

Trump is literally acting like a dictator, defying court orders and seldom troops to Portland. What next?

Nintendo_Pro_03 on October 5th, 2025 at 20:59 UTC »

He wants to wage war without waging war. That’s his revenge on the country.

MikeLanglois on October 5th, 2025 at 20:56 UTC »

Surely the fact this is unlawful means whoever he gave the order to doesnt have to follow it?