| WASHINGTON — President Trump announced over the weekend he is deploying 200 National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon – a politically motivated intervention that represents a gross abuse of power and blatant disregard for local authority. Local officials say the intervention is neither needed nor wanted. Oregon’s Governor said there is no threat that requires military intervention, and Attorney General Dan Rayfield sued the administration while saying Oregon communities are stable, underscoring that this action is about furthering Trump’s authoritarian agenda, not public safety. In response, the Not Above the Law coalition’s co-chairs – Lisa Gilbert, Co-President of Public Citizen; Praveen Fernandes, Vice President of the Constitutional Accountability Center; Kelsey Herbert, Campaign Director at MoveOn; and Brett Edkins, Managing Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Stand Up America—released the following statement: “Trump’s military deployment isn’t about public safety, it’s about seeing how far he can expand presidential power in America’s cities. By sending in forces without local consent, he is manufacturing a crisis to justify authoritarian control. “From Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., we’ve seen this playbook before, tactics a federal judge has already ruled illegal. Turning the U.S. military against civilians is dangerous and a direct attack on the core American principles of federalism and personal freedom as well as a gross misuse of the national guard. “Federal lawsuits have already been filed challenging this unlawful abuse of power. Congress and the courts must act now to stop this dangerous overreach. The American people cannot stay silent—our democracy depends on standing up, speaking out, and stopping Trump’s march toward authoritarian rule.” For questions about our work to hold Trump accountable or to request an interview with a Not Above the Law coalition leader, please email michael@focalpointstrategygroup.com. |
© 2025 Not Above the Law Coalition.