“We would like to be asked. We will go in and stop the problems in Portland in 24 hours," Trump said.
"Left-wing violent extremism poses an increasing threat to our country. And we stop it ... It’s an ideology we have to stop," Trump also noted. “What you are seeing in Portland is the radical left’s agenda in action. Portland is their road map for America … They look at Portland as a thing that they want.”
Around 200 Black Lives Matter protesters in Portland clashed with police early Friday morning for the third consecutive night, as tensions in the city increased.
“You are not demonstrating, you are attempting to commit murder,” Oregon Mayor Ted Wheeler said Thursday at a news conference, also warning that the city could see more “attacks on public buildings” in the immediate future, the Associated Press reported.
“Don’t think for a moment that if you are participating in this activity, you are not being a prop for the reelection campaign of Donald Trump — because you absolutely are. If you don’t want to be part of that, then don’t show up," Wheeler added.
Police arrested 12 adults and detained one 17-year-old in relation to the events on Thursday night and Friday morning, ABC News reported.
Last week, Trump stated that if Oregon State Police cannot crush the protests on its own and to the satisfaction of the federal police present, he will deploy the National Guard.
Trump has insisted that the federal agents in Portland are necessary to protect government assets.
