(NEXSTAR) — President Trump Tuesday defended his deployment of the National Guard to blue cities, where he says protests and crime have gotten out of control.
“It looks like a war zone,” the President said about Portland, Oregon, while addressing top military leaders in Quantico, Virginia.
President Trump says he’s sending 200 National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon to protect ICE officers and federal facilities amid protests of his immigration policies.
“This looked like World War II. Your place is burning down,” President Trump said.
Oregon is suing to block the deployment, calling it unconstitutional.
Democrats representing Portland — Congresswomen Maxine Dexter and Janelle Bynum — slammed the president’s move.
“We didn’t ask for this, we don’t need this, we don’t want this,” Rep. Bynum (D-OR) said.
“I think quite frankly our president doesn’t like our politics, and he’s using us as a tool for getting his message out,” Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-OR) said.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek (D) had also criticized the Trump administration for being “unpredictable” to the point that she didn’t even learn of Trump’s plans to bring the National Guard to Portland until she saw it on social media.
“This unpredictability is tough for everybody, and my heart goes out to Oregonians who are scared right now,” Kotek said.
Portland isn’t the president’s only target. He’s said several cities could soon see federal troops, as part of his effort to crack down on crime.
“We’re going into Chicago very soon,” President Trump said.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday he learned the administration is seeking to send 100 troops to Chicago.
“One thing is clear: None of what Trump is doing is making Illinois safer,” Gov. Pritzker said.
But for some in the nation’s capital, where the president mobilized the National Guard and took over the local police for a period of time:
“I feel safer here. I know others do, too,” Forlesia Cook said.
Cook’s grandson Marty was murdered in DC in 2017. She told lawmakers during a hearing on Capitol Hill Tuesday she’s seen a difference.
“Nobody heard me until now. Thank you, President Trump,” Cook said.
The debate comes as Republican governors of Missouri and Louisiana Tuesday took steps to deploy their own National Guards into cities in their states.
