We woke up early this morning after arriving in Portland, Oregon on Tuesday evening.
When I opened the curtains, I had to gasp. Smoke from fires burning in so many streets filled the air, cutting down visibility. Although I didn’t see any rioters, the president says they’re everywhere, creating a city-wide war zone. And there’s the evidence! Smoke everywhere you look.
Excuse me. What did you say? What? The National Weather Service issued a “dense fog alert” for the morning?
Oh, apologies. Not smoke. No fires. No riots. Just fog. False alarm.
All quiet in Portland.
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Right on, Ian! Keep us posted…and best to all.
David
Wow, it really looks like smoke! Glad to hear its not. Stay safe!
Oh yes. That “smoke” and the fact that the president said it was “smoke” will be some of the “evidence” Dept of Justice {soon to be renamed Dept of Injustice} lawyers will use in courts to justify armed ICE and National Guard people to roam city streets.
LOL, thank goodness. Are you wearing a London Fog?
For sure, Ian. I now live four block or so from the site. Intermittent at most. Read today’s Oregoniian about the opening day of the new National
Guard trial.
See you Sunday.
In his public remarks, President Trump clearly connected the phrase “war ravaged’” with federal facilities. specifically, immigration (ICE) facilities. He did NOT say rioters were “everywhere in Portland”. His focus was on protection of federal infrastructure and enforcement zones.
Here are some of Trump’s statements made this year regarding conditions in Portland, Oregon.
On the City’s Condition and Protests
September 2025 (Date of article: September 5, 2025):
Referred to the city as being in a state of chaos, stating, “Portland, it’s unbelievable what’s going on in Portland. The destruction of the city… If we go to Portland, we’re going to wipe them out, they’re going to be gone. They’ve ruined that city. What they’ve done to that place, it’s like living in hell.”
Source: “‘Like living in hell’: Trump hints Portland could be next city to see National Guard on streets” – OPB.
September 2025 (Date of article: September 27, 2025):
Called Portland “War ravaged” and described U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities as being “under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists.”
In a different remark from that time, he said, “We’re going to get out there and we’re going to do a pretty big number on those people in Portland,” describing them as “professional agitators and anarchists.”
Source: “Trump says he’ll send troops to Portland to handle ‘domestic terrorists'” – OPB.
September 2025 (Date of article: September 30, 2025):
Reiterated his description of the city, saying, “Portland is, I don’t know how anybody lives there, it’s amazing. But it’s anarchy out there.” He also falsely claimed most retail stores had closed due to arson and that open stores were covered in plywood.
Source: “Donald Trump says he is deploying troops to Portland, Oregon” – The Guardian.
October 2025 (Date of article: October 6, 2025):
Asserted that “pure insurrection” is unfolding in Portland.
Source: “Trump says ‘pure insurrection’ going on in Portland” – Anadolu Ajans?.
October 2025 (Date of article: October 1, 2025):
After his deployment order was challenged, he suggested on social media that Oregon’s governor “must be living in a ‘Dream World'” for stating that the city was peaceful and capable of handling local public safety.
Source: “Trump falsely claims that national guard troops are ‘in place’ in Portland” – The Guardian.
On Deploying Troops
September 27, 2025:
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump announced he was directing the Department of Defense to “provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland,” and “authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”
Source: Court Document detailing the statement – City of Portland.
Truly do NOT love how dedicated the Trump cult is, and attempts to sane-wash what he says and does.
People choose to look the other way and to misinform.
Good to see Ian not having it.
At some point, as a thinking person, when you find the ground rushing up to meet you while spinning out these cherry-picked, tortured and disjointed explanations for Trump’s indefensible behavior, may you meet with the realization that you backed the wrong horse. Yield to the overwhelming evidence and try not to get conned again.
Thanks for the references — I’m not disputing that Trump used tough language about Portland.
My point was narrow and remains correct: he did not say riots were “everywhere” in Portland.
That claim was made by the Ian, not Trump.
Citing other quotes doesn’t convert that false attribution into truth.
I’m sorry, Paul. You are incorrect. Those other quotes referred to the city of Portland, not the one block surrounding the ICE facility.
And here’s what the president said on September 27th:
“At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security … I am directing … to provide all necessary Troops to protect War-ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists. I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”
I have emphasized the “AND” between “war-ravaged Portland” and then the separate reference to “any of our ICE Facilities.”
“War-ravaged Portland” was separate and distinct from “any” ICE facilities.
Ian, we can split hairs on words, noting them to each in “quotes” for emphasis to make each others points, but the reality, as you documented, is that you are not seeing any noticeable govt actions other than at the Federal Building, where the masked and costume dressed folks wearing gas masks are provoking the federal guys to get a sound bite or two . doing that has become a social fun night out for a lot of the folks there. I’m a Duck, and know Portland very well. My buddy founded ______ brewing that is all over Portland, and I get some great intel.