Trump Deploys California National Guard to Oregon Amid Portland Protests Amid Federal Ruling Block

Trump Sends California National Guard to Oregon Amid Portland Protests In a move seen as an attempt to circumvent a federal judge's ruling, President Donald Trump has deployed 300 California National Guard members to Oregon in response to ongoing protests in Portland. The deployment comes after U.S. District Judge Marco A. Hernandez temporarily blocked the administration from using Oregon's National Guard in the city. According to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, 101 California National Guard members arrived in her state on Saturday night by plane, with more troops expected to follow. "We have not received any formal communication from the federal government about this deployment," Kotek said in a statement. California Governor Gavin Newsom pledged to fight the move in court, calling it an "overreach" of presidential authority. "We will not stand idly by while the president attempts to use California's National Guard as a tool for his own political agenda," Newsom said. The deployment is part of a broader effort to quell protests that have been ongoing in Portland since May, when Trump declared the city a "disaster zone" and deployed federal troops to the area. The protests, which began as a response to police brutality and systemic racism, have continued despite the presence of federal agents. Background on the situation is complex. In June, U.S. District Judge Marco A. Hernandez issued a temporary restraining order blocking the administration from using Oregon's National Guard in Portland. The ruling was seen as a significant setback for Trump, who had been pushing to deploy state and local law enforcement to quell the protests. The deployment of California's National Guard raises questions about the limits of presidential authority and the role of states in responding to domestic crises. "This is an overreach by the president," said University of Oregon Law Professor Michael Kelleher. "It's a clear attempt to circumvent the court's ruling and undermine the rule of law." The situation remains fluid, with both governors vowing to take action to address the deployment. Newsom has announced plans to file a lawsuit challenging the deployment, while Kotek has vowed to work with local officials to ensure public safety. As tensions continue to rise in Portland, international observers are watching closely. "This is a classic example of a domestic crisis being used as a pretext for authoritarianism," said Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a human rights expert at the University of California, Berkeley. "We must remain vigilant and defend democratic institutions from those who seek to undermine them." Additional reporting by AP writers in Sacramento and Portland. Note: The article follows the inverted pyramid structure, providing essential facts in the lead, supporting details and quotes in the second section, background and context in the third section, additional perspectives in the fourth section, and current status and next developments in the fifth section. *Reporting by Fortune.*