Trump sends California troops to Oregon, defying court order | Sacramento Bee

Members of the National Guard patrol near Union Station on Aug. 14 in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy 300 California National Guard members to Oregon on Sunday, defying a court order. Getty Images/TNS

President Donald Trump sent 300 California National Guard troops to Oregon on Sunday, defying a court order blocking him from deploying Oregon’s own National Guard to patrol Portland in an ongoing White House campaign targeting Democratic cities.

On Saturday, U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut in Portland temporarily blocked the Pentagon from sending 200 Oregon National Guard members to protect an Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland from protests.

She rejected the Pentagon’s claims that Portland faced a “danger of rebellion,” and said “the president’s determination was simply untethered to the facts,” a week after Trump told military leaders that he planned to punish “dangerous” cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York by using them as military training grounds to combat “a war within.”

Overnight, the White House told Gov. Gavin Newsom that they were sending 300 California National Guard members to Portland, which he called “a breathtaking abuse of the law and power.”

“The Trump administration is unapologetically attacking the rule of law itself and putting into action their dangerous words — ignoring court orders and treating judges, even those appointed by the president himself, as political opponents,” Newsom said in a statement, vowing to sue.

“This isn’t about public safety, it’s about power. The commander-in-chief is using the U.S. military as a political weapon against American citizens.”

The Oregonian reported that the federal government did not communicate with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek before 101 California National Guardsmen arrived unannounced in Portland on Saturday night. More troops were on their way as of 1 p.m. Sunday, Kotek said.

“There is no need for military intervention in Oregon,” she said. “There is no insurrection in Portland. No threat to national security.”

Both she and Newsom urged protestors to remain peaceful.

“We will take this fight to court, but the public cannot stay silent in the face of such reckless and authoritarian conduct by the President of the United States,” Newsom said.

When asked for comment, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson falsely claimed protestors had violently rioted and attacked law enforcement, and referred to Newsom using one of Trump’s often-used insults.

“President Trump exercised his lawful authority to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following violent riots and attacks on law enforcement,” Jackson said in an email. “For once, Gavin Newscum should stand on the side of law-abiding citizens instead of violent criminals destroying Portland and cities across the country.”

Last month, California won a court victory barring the Pentagon from using the California National Guard to crack down on anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles.

U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco found that the White House had violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which prevents the military from being used for domestic policing on U.S. soil.

This story was originally published October 5, 2025 10:24 AM.