Trump Hints More Cities May Face Portland-Style Crackdowns

Praises federal agents in Portland for 'fantastic job' against anarchists

Federal crackdowns in Portland, Oregon have become an increasingly controversial situation. Last week, a DHS memo discussed needs if this is to become normal. There are worrying signs that this is being considered.

Though President Trump made no announcement one way or another on future crackdowns, he did praise what is going on in Portland, saying they “grab a lot of people and jail the leaders. These are anarchists.” But is this a one-off incident?

Trump rattled off a list of cities that could be next for the feds, including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, and Oakland. Local officials are already bristling at this, and as with Portland, the administration would face a backlash if they try to spread this.

In Portland, federal law enforcement from the DHS have been roaming the city in camouflage and unmarked rented vehicles, dragging people off the street and holding them in detention. This has been condemned by the mayor, the governor, multiple congressmen, and the state’s attorney general.

In bigger cities the dubious legality of these police actions would be all the more heavily opposed. Suggestions that the cities are run by “liberal Democrats,” whether it is an actual part of the selection process or not, also risks turning this into a bigger political crisis.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.