The US state of Oregon and its largest city, Portland, have taken legal action against President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy the state’s National Guard. The lawsuit, filed in federal court by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, calls the move an “unconstitutional abuse of power.”

The case names Trump, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as defendants. According to the suit, Trump exceeded his authority when he ordered the deployment of at least 200 National Guard members to protect immigration enforcement officers and federal facilities.

Attorney General Rayfield argued that the order does not make communities safer. The lawsuit states:
“Defendants’ provocative and arbitrary actions threaten to undermine public safety by inciting a public outcry.”

The filing also points out that Trump described Portland as a city “under siege” and “war ravaged” by “domestic terrorists,” claims the state says are baseless. The Attorney General added that Trump’s action violated Oregon’s right to handle its own policing.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said he and other officials only learned of the deployment through social media. “The number of necessary troops is zero, in Portland and any other American city. The president will not find lawlessness or violence here unless he plans to perpetrate it,” Wilson said.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek also opposed Trump’s order. She said she had spoken directly with the president and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “There is no insurrection, there is no threat to national security, and there is no need for military troops in our major city,” Kotek stated.

Trump’s decision comes despite reports showing that violent crime in Portland fell in the first half of 2025. Reuters noted that there is still no clear information on whether the order means full military deployment or limited action. The Pentagon has not given further clarification, according to AFP.

US Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, compared Trump’s action to events five years ago. Writing on X, he said Trump “may be replaying the 2020 playbook,” referring to when federal forces were deployed during protests in Portland after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.