President Donald Trump on Sunday ordered the deployment of four hundred Texas National Guard troops, with the consent of Gov. Greg Abbott (R), to Illinois and Oregon to protect ICE agents and federal facilities under violent siege by Antifa and other leftist terrorists in Chicago and Portland.
The orders federalize about 2,000 Texas National Guard under Northern Command, authorizing their deployment to “Illinois, Oregon and other locations throughout the United States,” with an initial deployment of 400 troops to Portland and Chicago.
The move follows Trump ordering California National Guard troops to Portland after a federal judge on Saturday blocked Trump from deploying the Oregon National Guard. Oregon, California and Portland went to court Sunday night to fight the new California orders.
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) flipped out earlier Sunday when he learned Trump, who had already federalized the state guard to protect Los Angeles in June, sent California National Guard troops to Portland, calling the orders “appalling” and “un-American.”
Sunday night, Newsom was hysterical, warning of martial law, “This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power by the President of the United States. America is on the brink of martial law. Do not be silent.”
This is a breathtaking abuse of the law and power by the President of the United States.
America is on the brink of martial law.
Do not be silent. https://t.co/BxWvN1lQT1
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) October 6, 2025
Newsom was reacting to fellow Democrat Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s own hysterical response to the deployment of Guard troops:
“This evening, President Trump is ordering 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Illinois, Oregon, and other locations within the United States. No officials from the federal government called me directly to discuss or coordinate.
“We must now start calling this what it is: Trump’s Invasion. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state’s military troops.
“I call on Governor Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate. There is no reason a President should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation.
“The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness.”
Abbott blasted Pritzker Sunday night, posting:
I fully authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials.
You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it.
No Guard can match the training, skill, and expertise of the Texas National Guard.
They defend our country with pride.
America must also know that Texas still has thousands of National Guard assisting with the Border security.
I fully authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials.
You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it.
No Guard can match the training, skill, and… https://t.co/7SUk9XlMBn
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) October 6, 2025
A copy of the orders by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was posted by Politico reporter Kyle Cheney:
UPDATE: Hegseth today called up 400 members of the Texas National Guard, with Gov. Abbott’s apparent permission, to be deployed “where needed, including in the cities of Portland and Chicago.” https://t.co/FoE2jn7qF0 pic.twitter.com/xSl7pcQ09I
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 6, 2025