Appeals Court Decides Trump Can Deploy National Guard to Portland

The Trump administration was granted permission to deploy the Oregon National Guard in Portland, following a federal appeals court decision on Monday.

The Details: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 in favor of President Donald Trump, stating, “After considering the record at this preliminary stage, we conclude that it is likely that the President lawfully exercised his statutory authority.” This ruling, supported by two judges appointed by Trump, overturned a temporary restraining order issued by US District Judge Karin Immergut, who last week extended two orders blocking the mobilization of federal troops to Portland.

For Context: Protests in Portland against federal immigration policies have been ongoing since June, with a declared riot and arson arrests in mid-summer. The situation escalated when Trump announced in late September that he would be sending 200 Oregon National Guard troops to the city. The Trump administration has characterized Oregon’s biggest city as “war-ravaged” and uncontrollably violent, a depiction disputed by local leaders.

How the Media Covered It: CNN (Left bias) highlighted the fact that Trump appointed the two judges who supported the ruling, and extensively quoted dissenting Judge Susan P. Graber's criticism of the decision. The report also detailed the ongoing legal battle and the potential implications for the state of Oregon and other states facing similar situations. The New York Post (Lean Right) framed the court’s decision as a “major legal victory” for the Trump administration. The article explained that the lower court's temporary restraining orders had “halted the National Guard deployment to the ultra-woke city,” while also noting the “lone dissenter was a judge appointed by President Bill Clinton.” Reuters (Center) framed the coverage around the divided opinions of the three-judge panel, highlighting the views of both the Trump-appointed judges and the Clinton-appointed judge.   

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