PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson are condemning the deployment of out-of-state National Guard troops to Oregon, calling the federal move unlawful, unnecessary, and politically motivated.
Kotek confirmed Sunday that members of both the California and Texas National Guard were ordered to Oregon under federal direction without any prior consultation or explanation from President Trump or Secretary Hegseth. According to the governor, the Department of War instructed the Texas Adjutant General to deploy roughly 400 Texas National Guard personnel to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations across the country. Meanwhile, at least 101 federalized California National Guard troops reportedly arrived in Oregon on Saturday night, with more expected to follow.
The deployment appears to circumvent a recent federal court ruling that temporarily blocked the mobilization of National Guard forces in the state. Oregon officials say they received no formal notification and are accusing the administration of disregarding both the legal process and state sovereignty.
“There is no need for military intervention in Oregon. There is no insurrection in Portland. No threat to national security,” Kotek said in a statement. “As governor, I will continue to defend Oregon’s right to self-governance and the rule of law. Our state will not be used as a stage for political theater.”
Attorney General Dan Rayfield echoed the criticism, accusing the Trump administration of exceeding its authority. “The President seems hell-bent on deploying the military in American cities absent facts or legal justification,” Rayfield said. “We are taking all available steps to hold this administration accountable and protect the rights of Oregonians.”
Mayor Keith Wilson reaffirmed Portland’s opposition to the troop presence, citing the federal judge’s order blocking any National Guard deployment to the state. “The federal government’s actions are unlawful and unjustified,” Wilson said. “We urge them to respect the court’s judgment and immediately halt any operations that defy it. Portland remains committed to lawful protest and peaceful resolution.”
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden also weighed in, sharply criticizing the administration’s actions. “Was there something Donald Trump was too dense to understand in Judge Immergut’s conclusion yesterday that his determination was simply untethered to the facts?” Wyden wrote on social media.
The confrontation marks the latest escalation in Oregon’s ongoing legal and political standoff with federal authorities. A federal judge has already issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting National Guard deployments to Oregon while lawsuits from the state and city of Portland move forward.
Governor Kotek has joined Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker in urging Texas Governor Greg Abbott to withdraw any cooperation with the federal order. Despite the mounting opposition, Abbott has said he intends to comply, stating that Texas will continue to assist in protecting federal property nationwide.
State officials say they will continue pursuing emergency court action to block further deployments and are calling for transparency regarding the federal government’s intentions. “Oregon is not a battleground,” Kotek said. “We will not allow outside forces to dictate how we govern our own communities.”
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, Texas Tribune, Washington Post, KOIN 6 News
