On Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tackled a troubling incident that unfolded in Portland, Oregon. Republican journalist Nick Sortor was attacked by Antifa members and subsequently arrested by local police. The Gateway Pundit reported that the incident is now under scrutiny by the Department of Justice, with Assistant Attorney Harmeet Dhillon stating, “Portland: it’s FO [Find Out] time. Buckle up,” on social media.
Leavitt’s remarks underscored a significant shift in how federal resources may be allocated in response to the surge of violence in Portland. As she explained to reporters, the Portland Police Department is now in the DOJ’s crosshairs, prompting President Trump to consider cutting federal aid to the city. “Since June alone,” Leavitt noted, “radical left-wing lunatics have violently breached the ICE facility by using a stop sign as a battering ram, hurled explosives and other projectiles at law enforcement, repeatedly assaulted and doxxed officers, berated their law-abiding neighbors, and even rolled out a guillotine in front of the ICE facility.”
In a firm resolution, Leavitt declared that alongside cutting federal funding, the Trump administration plans an increased federal presence in Portland. “There will also be an additional surge of federal resources to Portland immediately, including enhanced CBP and ICE resources. Law and order will prevail, and President Trump will make sure of it,” she assured the audience.
Leavitt pointed to statistics indicating a rise in violence since early June. “What’s been allowed to happen in Portland… this is not peaceful protesting,” she said. Rather, it is “left-wing anarchy that has been destroying this great American city for years.” Her comments reflect the administration’s increasing focus on restoring law and order in urban areas plagued by unrest.
Furthermore, Leavitt voiced deep concern over the treatment of Sortor, who was filming the chaos and ended up in police custody. “Instead of arresting these violent mob members… the police arrested a journalist who was there trying to document the chaos, and everyone in this room should be extremely concerned about that,” she asserted. The DOJ has already initiated a full investigation into Sortor’s arrest, indicating the seriousness of the allegations surrounding police conduct.
Leavitt made it clear that the situation in Portland represents a broader trend of increasing lawlessness that, according to her, “left-wing mobs believe they get to decide who can visit and live in their city.” She reiterated that Portland does not belong to these radical groups but to the American people, emphasizing, “President Trump is going to restore that.” Leavitt also mentioned that the administration is reviewing funding allocations that could be cut off as a response to the city’s failure to uphold order.
The press secretary revealed ongoing complications with local police, stating, “Local police have been restricted from responding or cooperating at all with federal authorities,” as reported by the Department of Homeland Security’s task force. She criticized local elected officials for preventing law enforcement from performing their duties, calling it “despicable.”
As Leavitt communicated to Just The News correspondent Amanda Head, restoring the relationship between local and federal law enforcement is essential. She recalled how federal resources had effectively bolstered safety in Washington, D.C., and suggested that a similar approach could yield results in Portland. “We think it’s despicable that these local elected officials who swear an oath to protect their people are preventing law enforcement from doing their jobs on the ground,” she said.
In closing, Leavitt left the door open for collaboration with local leadership. She suggested that if Portland’s mayor sought assistance, President Trump would be receptive. “The President wants to work with anyone,” she noted. “He is genuinely serious about wanting to restore order in America’s cities.” However, she expressed disappointment over the apparent reluctance of elected officials in the area to join in the fight against violence and chaos.
Leavitt’s remarks amplify an ongoing debate over the role of federal versus local enforcement in maintaining order during a time of heightened unrest. As federal involvement ramps up, the attention on Portland signals a decisive stance from the Trump administration against what it deems unacceptable levels of lawlessness.
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