White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday that President Donald Trump has instructed aides to review federal funding for Portland, citing what she described as an increase in incidents involving “Antifa” connected to immigration protests.
“We will not fund states that allow anarchy,” Leavitt told reporters at a press conference. She added that the administration is considering reductions in aid to Portland as part of a broader review of funding priorities.
Leavitt said Trump has also directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to ensure troops are available to “protect war-ravaged Portland and any ICE facilities under siege from attack by Antifa and other left-wing domestic terrorists.” The National Guard has already mobilized 200 troops in response to the unrest, but after Trump’s latest announcement, Portland and the state of Oregon filed a lawsuit to counter Trump’s efforts to place the state’s National Guard under federal control.
City and state officials have claimed that Trump is basing his actions on information that’s out of date. At the press briefing, however, Leavitt claimed that city officials were “preventing law enforcement from doing their jobs on the ground.”
The administration’s focus on Antifa underscores the political tension surrounding the demonstrations. Antifa, short for “anti-fascist,” is not an organized group but rather a loose political movement. The term is often used as a general label for activists opposing white supremacy, authoritarianism and neo-Nazism.
Protests in Portland have been ongoing since June, sparked by opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. The demonstrations intensified after federal immigration officials carried out aggressive deportation measures, drawing criticism from local leaders and immigrant rights groups. According to the FBI’s Portland field office, 128 arrests have been made in the city since June 9 in connection with protest activity.
Trump’s comments are consistent with his administration’s broader approach toward Democratic-led cities and states that resist federal immigration policies. Over the past several years, the White House has threatened funding cuts for jurisdictions deemed “sanctuary cities,” arguing they obstruct federal enforcement efforts. Portland, known for its vocal opposition to immigration crackdowns, has frequently been a flashpoint in these disputes.
The latest remarks also follow a shift in policy toward another Democratic stronghold. On Friday, the administration reversed previously announced funding cuts for New York tied to an immigration dispute. That reversal came after New York filed a lawsuit over frozen federal funding for transit security. State and Congressional officials were pleased that the funding would resume, citing the risk New York faces from terrorism.
Leavitt defended the administration’s actions regarding Portland. “He has directed his team here at the White House to begin reviewing aid that can potentially be cut in Portland,” she said.
For now, the situation regarding Portland remains fluid. It is not yet clear what level of funding could be withheld or how soon the administration may act on its review.
Sources: Politico, The Hill, The Hill, Good Morning America
