Trump orders 400 Texas National Guard members for deployment to Illinois, Oregon, other locations

Trump orders 400 Texas National Guard members for deployment to Illinois, Oregon, other locations

In a significant move, President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of 400 Texas National Guard members to Illinois, Oregon, and potentially other locations. This decision comes amidst ongoing tensions and protests in several U.S. cities.

The White House confirmed that the president had authorized the deployment to Illinois, citing "ongoing violent riots and lawlessness" that local leaders have not quelled. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized the move, calling it "unnecessary" and "a manufactured performance" .

In Oregon, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from deploying federalized national guard troops to Portland, stating that such a move would likely inflame rather than calm protests. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek welcomed the ruling, asserting that there is no insurrection in Portland .

The deployment to Illinois follows a recent incident where a border patrol agent shot and injured a woman while firing at someone who tried to run them over. The Democratic Illinois governor, JB Pritzker, called the move unnecessary and "not a serious effort to protect public safety" .

The deployment to Oregon was part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to dispatch the military to Democrat-led cities, which has faced opposition from local officials and mayors. A coalition of 17 mayors in the state had opposed the deployment .

The White House has also been accused of planning to send an elite army unit to Portland, with a senior official inadvertently revealing the details. The official was observed discussing the plan to deploy the 82nd airborne division to the Democratic-run city using Signal in a public place .

The deployment of the Texas National Guard is part of a series of measures by the Trump administration to address perceived lawlessness and unrest in various U.S. cities. However, the move has drawn criticism from state officials and mayors who argue that the deployment is not necessary and could exacerbate tensions.