White House Leak: Elite Army Unit to Portland? What You NEED to Know!
A recent leak from a White House official has revealed potential plans to deploy an elite army unit to Portland. The incident, involving Anthony Salisbury, a top deputy to Stephen Miller, occurred in Minnesota, where Salisbury was observed discussing the deployment of the 82nd Airborne Division via Signal.
The Leaked Messages
According to images obtained by the Minnesota Star Tribune, Salisbury's messages involved discussions with Patrick Weaver, a senior advisor to the US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, and other high-ranking federal officials. The conversation suggested Hegseth sought explicit authorization from President Trump to deploy troops to Portland.
National Guard vs. 82nd Airborne
Weaver's messages indicated a preference for deploying the National Guard due to potential backlash from using the army's 82nd Airborne Division. He noted that using the 82nd, a top-tier quick reaction force typically deployed abroad, would likely generate significant media attention. The 82nd Airborne Division specializes in parachute assaults and forcible entry operations.
Trump Administration Authorizes National Guard Deployment
Following the leaked information, the Trump administration authorized the deployment of 200 members of the Oregon National Guard for a 60-day period. This decision, outlined in a memo to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, allows the National Guard members to “perform federal functions.”
Resistance and Legal Challenges
The authorization faced immediate resistance from Oregon state officials and the city of Portland. A federal lawsuit was filed, arguing that the Trump administration had overstepped its authority and acted unlawfully. The Oregon Department of Justice also filed a temporary restraining order seeking to block the deployment.
Attorneys for Oregon and the city of Portland argued that the deployment was part of a broader effort to integrate the military into civilian law enforcement and to punish politically disfavored jurisdictions.
President Trump's Stance
President Trump had previously mentioned the possibility of sending additional federal law enforcement or troops to Portland, specifically citing protests outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building on Macadam Avenue. State and local officials have largely opposed such actions.
