‘The number of necessary troops is zero’: Portland mayor responds to Trump announcement

City and state officials spoke out Saturday morning against Donald Trump’s announcement that he would send troops to Portland to handle “domestic terrorists.”

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson responded by saying “the number of necessary troops is zero, in Portland and any other American city.”

“Our nation has a long memory for acts of oppression, and the president will not find lawlessness or violence here unless he plans to perpetrate it,” Wilson said. “Imagine if the federal government sent hundreds of engineers, or teachers, or outreach workers to Portland, instead of a short, expensive, and fruitless show of force.”

Trump announced that he would be sending troops to “protect war-ravaged Portland,” and that he was authorizing full force if necessary.

Related: Trump says he’ll send troops to Portland to handle ‘domestic terrorists’

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said Saturday her office was reaching out to the White House and to the Department of Homeland Security for more information.

“We have been provided no information on the reason or purpose of any military mission,” Kotek said. “There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm. I ask Oregonians to stay calm and enjoy a beautiful fall day.”

Several Oregon officials had already received reports of increased federal presence in Portland on Friday and held an emergency press conference, echoing that locals should stay calm amid a potential surge in force.

“Don’t take the bait,” U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley said at the impromptu briefing at a Northeast Portland church, flanked by city, county and federal leaders.

Related: Portland leaders urge calm amid reports of a surge in federal officers at the ICE building

Officials did not say how many federal agents may have already emerged in the city, or which agencies they represented.

U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter on Saturday morning said Trump’s announcement was a betrayal of American values.

“Authoritarians rely on fear to divide us,” Dexter said. “Portland will not give them that. We will not be intimidated.”

Meanwhile, former Oregon representative and current U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer applauded the announcement and echoed Trump’s characterization of Portland.

“I’ve seen firsthand how lawlessness has transformed Portland from a beautiful place to live to a crime-ridden war zone,” she said in a post on X. “Thank you, @POTUS, for taking action to keep our ICE facilities protected and Make America Safe Again!

Earlier this month, Trump had said living in Portland was like “living in hell.” He said at the time he was considering sending in federal troops, as he has also threatened to do in other cities, including Chicago and Baltimore.”