U.S. President Donald Trump received authorization from a federal appeals court to deploy troops to the city of Portland, Oregon. A few weeks ago, Trump had ordered the deployment of 200 soldiers against the will of local Democratic authorities, but a federal judge temporarily blocked the measure.

Now, the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled by a two-to-one majority that the president acted “within his legal powers,” overturning the earlier decision that had stopped the National Guard’s mobilization. Federal Judge Karin J. Immergut had previously stated that there was neither an insurrection in Portland nor a national-security threat that would justify military intervention.

The decision marks a new chapter in the confrontation between the federal government and states governed by Democrats, where Trump insists on enforcing military presence in what he describes as “zones of violence and anarchy.” In parallel, the president has already deployed National Guard units to cities such as Los Angeles, Washington, and Memphis — all under Democratic administrations — while a similar move toward Chicago remains on hold by court order.

Trump defends his actions by pointing to rising crime rates and the recent protests outside Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices, where clashes between demonstrators and security forces have erupted. However, critics and local officials accuse the president of using the military for political purposes, deepening tensions between the White House and state governments.