Donald Trump news: Pentagon deploys California National Guard to Portland, Oregon

The US military is reassigning about 200 federalised members of the California National Guard to Portland, Oregon, in a new tactic to fulfil plans announced by US President Donald Trump.

Sunday’s announcement followed a ruling by a federal judge on Saturday that temporarily blocked MR Trump from deploying 200 Oregon National Guard troops to the city of Portland, citing a lack of evidence that recent protests necessitated the move.

“At the direction of the President, approximately 200 federalised members of the California National Guard are being reassigned from duty in the greater Los Angeles area to Portland, Oregon to support US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal personnel performing official duties, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement.

California Governor Gavin Newsom pledged to fight the deployment in court.

Mr Newsom, a Democrat, said in a statement that California personnel were on their way and called the deployment “a breathtaking abuse of the law and power.”

He said these troops were “federalised” and put under the US president’s control months ago over his objections, in response to unrest in Los Angeles.

“The commander-in-chief is using the US military as a political weapon against American citizens,” Mr Newsom said.

“We will take this fight to court, but the public cannot stay silent in the face of such reckless and authoritarian conduct by the president of the United States.”

A Trump-appointed judge in Oregon temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s deployment plan to protect federal property amid protests after Trump called Portland “war-ravaged.”

Oregon officials and Portland residents alike said that description was ludicrous.

US District Judge Karin Immergut, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, issued the order pending further arguments in a lawsuit brought by Oregon state and the US city.

She said the relatively small protests in Portland did not justify the use of federalised forces and allowing the deployment could harm Oregon’s state sovereignty.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson said the city continues to seek legal means to halt any National Guard deployment.

“This action circumvents the court’s decision and threatens to inflame a community that has remained peaceful,” Mr Wilson said.

“Our legal team is co-ordinating with our partners and will immediately pursue all lawful steps to enforce the judge’s order and protect Portlanders’ rights.”

with EFE and AP