Noem Warns Portland Mayor: More Feds Coming If City Refuses Cooperation

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivered a fiery warning to Portland Mayor Keith Wilson on Tuesday, telling him that his city’s refusal to cooperate with federal security efforts will trigger a major escalation in federal presence — including “four times the amount of federal officers” currently deployed.

Noem’s remarks came during her visit to Portland’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, a frequent target of left-wing protests and riots. The trip followed an ongoing legal dispute between Oregon officials and President Donald J. Trump’s administration over plans to deploy National Guard troops to restore order in the city.

Speaking to Fox News host Jesse Watters, Noem said she left her meeting with Mayor Wilson “extremely disappointed.”

“He’s continuing to play politics,” she said. “What I told him is that if he did not follow through on some of these security measures for our officers, we were going to cover him up with more federal resources — and we were going to send four times the amount of federal officers here so that the people of Portland could have some safety.”

Standing alongside federal agents atop the ICE facility earlier in the day, Noem blasted Wilson’s lack of leadership, warning that his hesitation was endangering both citizens and law enforcement.

“He’s going to have blood on his hands because he sat around and thought too long,” she said. “He’s too scared of the political ramifications of making a big decision to keep his city safe.”

Noem accused the mayor and other progressive leaders of downplaying threats from “professional terrorists” — echoing President Trump’s warnings that organized extremist networks have been targeting federal property across the nation.

“That’s my concern — you’ve got so many people here in Portland playing politics,” she said. “They don’t realize they’re up against professionals who know exactly what they’re doing.”

Mayor Wilson later responded in a written statement, calling his meeting with Noem “cordial but deeply concerning.”

“What the secretary saw today matches our reports: Portland continues to manage public safety professionally and responsibly, irrespective of the claims of out-of-state social media influencers,” Wilson said.

He dismissed Noem’s claim that the city was “out of control” and accused federal agents of using unconstitutional tactics.

“The tactics used by federal agents at the ICE facility are troubling and likely unconstitutional,” he wrote. “We still do not know what ‘Full Force’ against Portland means, or how the administration plans to use our city as a military training ground.”

Wilson vowed to “explore all options” to protect Portland’s “right to free expression.”

Noem’s visit came just two days after a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plan to send National Guard troops to Oregon, ruling that the government hadn’t demonstrated an urgent need for military involvement. The White House has appealed the decision.

President Donald J. Trump has repeatedly called Portland a “war-ravaged” city, criticizing its progressive leadership for refusing to cooperate with federal law enforcement.

“This is not about politics,” Trump said earlier this week. “It’s about restoring law and order.”

Local law enforcement, however, continues to push back. Portland Police Chief Bob Day told CNN that the unrest had been exaggerated by the national media.

“This is just one small block in a big city,” Day said. “Our officers are maintaining control.”

Despite such assurances, Noem’s warning marks the most forceful federal escalation yet in the administration’s confrontation with left-leaning city governments that refuse to secure federal property.

“This is not a negotiation,” a DHS spokesperson said Tuesday evening. “Either Portland’s leadership steps up and secures federal facilities, or we will.”