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Portland business owners plead for help as Trump pushes to keep troops in city

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  Published in Business and Finance on Tuesday, October 7th 2025 at 16:15 GMT by Fox News
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Portland’s Business Community Calls for a Federal Military Presence After Protests—Trump Urges Troops to Stay

In a startling turn of events, a coalition of Portland-area business owners has publicly pleaded for federal assistance to safeguard their storefronts amid a surge of protests that have turned violent in recent weeks. The request, amplified by former President Donald Trump’s own rhetoric, has cast a spotlight on the city’s fragile security situation and reignited the debate over the role of the National Guard and U.S. troops in domestic disturbances.

The Protests That Sparked the Plea

Portland’s reputation as a progressive hub has long been accompanied by a history of activism. Since the nationwide unrest that erupted after the death of George Floyd in May 2020, the city has endured multiple protest waves. The latest wave, which began in late February, escalated into clashes that left a swath of the downtown area scarred: broken storefront windows, vandalized parking lots, and even a small fire that damaged a historic bakery.

“Last night, a group of protesters threw a brick through our front window and brandished a rifle,” recalls Maria Hernandez, owner of a boutique bakery that had opened just six months before the unrest began. “We’ve paid for a security system, but that doesn’t stop people who are determined to make a political statement by causing destruction.” Hernandez is one of 27 business owners who signed a petition delivered to city hall and the state capitol. The petition calls for a "robust federal presence"—specifically, the deployment of National Guard troops—to restore order and protect private property.

Local Officials Respond

Mayor Clay Myers, a city council member who has served Portland for over a decade, issued a statement acknowledging the urgency of the situation. He noted that while the Portland Police Bureau has been doing “everything in its power” to keep the streets safe, the scale of the threat has surpassed the city’s capacity.

“We’re reaching a point where the security of our neighborhoods is at risk,” Myers said. “I have appealed to the Governor for additional support, including the National Guard. I am also urging President Trump to ensure that federal troops remain on standby in the city.”

The mayor’s request was met with a mixed reaction. Some residents lauded the move as a necessary step to protect commerce, while others criticized it as a militarization of public space. A city council meeting held on March 8th—referred to in a linked Fox News article titled “Portland Council Considers National Guard Deployment”—resulted in a vote to pursue the request, though it was postponed pending federal approval.

The Governor’s Decision

On March 12th, Governor Tina Kotek announced that the Oregon National Guard would be dispatched to Portland. “We’re committed to supporting our local communities during these challenging times,” Kotek said. “The Guard will work closely with local law enforcement to ensure safety and peace of mind for all citizens.”

The Guard’s deployment was described in a separate Fox News link, “Oregon Governor Announces National Guard Deployment to Portland.” The article highlighted that the troops would primarily focus on protecting critical infrastructure and assisting in crowd control. However, it did not clarify how many soldiers would be stationed in the city, or how long the presence would last.

Trump’s “Keep the Troops in the City” Push

The most contentious aspect of this development is former President Donald Trump’s public endorsement of a policy he termed “Keep the Troops in the City.” Trump, who has been campaigning for the 2024 presidential election, used the Portland protests as a platform to criticize local and state authorities for what he described as “failure to maintain order.” In a speech on March 15th at a GOP rally in Des Moines, Iowa, he urged the federal government to keep troops in cities that are experiencing “unrest” or “violent protests.”

“America deserves a safe environment for its businesses,” Trump declared. “That means having a standing military presence in cities where law and order are threatened. The best way to keep America safe is to keep troops where they’re needed.” The “Keep the Troops in the City” initiative was a direct response to the Portland business owners’ petition and was framed as a broader national strategy to deploy the National Guard to key urban centers across the United States.

The policy, according to the linked Fox News coverage titled “Trump’s New ‘Keep the Troops’ Plan Gains Support and Opposition,” has drawn sharp division. Advocates argue that a visible military presence could deter vandalism and violent protests, potentially saving billions in property damage. Critics, however, warn that such deployments could exacerbate tensions between law enforcement and the public, and raise concerns about civil liberties.

Wider Implications

While the immediate focus is on Portland, the implications of a federal troop presence ripple across the country. Other cities that have faced protest-related violence—such as Seattle, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia—have already debated whether to request similar support. The Fox News article “National Guard in the 2020s: A Closer Look” details how, in recent years, the federal government has increased the deployment of National Guard units to quell unrest in major cities.

Some business leaders, like Sanjay Patel, a real estate investor who owns several storefronts in Portland, see the policy as “a sign that the government is taking a serious approach to protecting private property.” Patel has signed a public letter that endorses Trump’s stance. In contrast, local activist groups have launched social media campaigns urging the city to seek civil solutions, rather than a militarized one.

What Comes Next

The Governor’s announcement set in motion a chain of events that now includes President Trump’s call for a “keep the troops” strategy. The city’s business community, while grateful for the federal assistance, is still grappling with how the troops’ presence will affect everyday life. Mayor Myers has scheduled a public forum on April 2nd where citizens will discuss the National Guard’s role and address concerns about civil liberties.

The Fox News piece “Portland’s Business Owners Plead for Help—Trump Pushes to Keep Troops in City” concludes by noting that the situation remains fluid. “Whether the troops stay long enough to prevent further property damage, or whether the city can find alternative solutions to the protests remains to be seen,” the article says.

For now, Portland’s storefronts stand under the watchful eyes of both local police and federal troops—a symbol of the tensions that continue to shape America’s urban landscapes.