President Donald Trump today congratulated the head of the Department of Homeland Security for quelling protests against police violence in Portland. Trump confirmed reports that he sent federal officers to crack down on property destruction at the federal courthouse, because "the locals couldn't handle it."
The president brought up Portland at a meeting of military commanders in Doral, Fla., to discuss drug trafficking. His remarks were posted by the White House and reported this afternoon by Oregon Public Broadcasting.
For six weeks, a nightly uprising against racism and killings by police has marched through the streets of Portland, with protesters typically converging at downtown courthouses. On some nights, protesters have sprayed graffiti and set fires at or near those buildings, including the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse.
Trump deployed Homeland Security officers to Portland on July 2, as part of an executive order to protect national monuments. Homeland Security, which typically focuses on securing the border and preventing terrorist attacks, has monitored left-wing protests in Portland since at least 2017.
The president implied Portland police were hamstrung by the city's liberal elected officials from stopping property destruction. "Local law enforcement has been told not to do too much," Trump said. "It's not the way it's supposed to be, but that's OK."
He described Portland's protesters as "a pretty wild group."
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are the enemy of the Republic.
