Federal forces deployed to Portland
Donald Trump ordered federal troops to travel to Portland, Oregon as local officials continued to investigate a fire that damaged Ice Cube’s travel bus shortly after his concert in the city.
“I instructed War Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide all the necessary forces to protect Portland in the war disaster, while we are attacked by Antifa and other domestic terrorists on ice.
The move comes as tensions in the city grow intensified and deployed protests with Trump’s 2020 federal officials during the protests, which sparked national scrutiny.
Ice Cube bus caught fire in downtown
Portland Fire Rescue is still reviewing the cause of the fire igniting on the former passenger tires that rented a bus at Ice Cube on Tuesday night. According to fire department spokesman Rick Graves, vehicles were parked near Southwest Broadway and Oak Street when the fire broke out.
The 56-year-old hip-hop artist has just finished his show at the Moda Center, as part of his journey to the truth. Ice Cube said through a representative: “I am not using this incident as a personal attack. Such a coward would burn the property of anyone there at that time.”
As of Saturday, officials have not announced any suspects or motives.
Trump’s speech this week hints at a more aggressive stance against Portland. “We’re going there, we’re going to do a lot of people to those in Portland,” he told reporters Thursday, referring to “professional agitators and anarchists.”
He has always portrayed the city from a grim angle, once describing it as “like hell.” Earlier this week, he signed an executive order that marked Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.
Local officials push back
“I didn’t ask for – no need – federal intervention,” Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said.
Oregon lawmakers have also raised concerns about immigration enforcement in the state. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici said on Friday: “On the ice said they were targeting people who arrested and detained crimes. That’s what they told us. But that’s not what we’re seeing.”
According to BBC News, the Department of War has not confirmed whether the deployment will involve National Guard units or active-duty troops.
The investigation is still underway
As of Saturday, Portland Fire and Rescue has not released any new discoveries related to the tourist bus fire. Ice Cube continued to tour without further reported events.
