Additional Coverage:
- Oregon National Guard general suggest his troops would ‘protect’ protesters from ICE (themirror.com)
Oregon Guard Commander’s Comments Resurface Amid Federal Deployment Debate
PORTLAND, Ore. – Week-old remarks made by the commander of the Oregon National Guard are gaining renewed attention on social media as a federal appeals court deliberates President Donald Trump’s attempts to deploy the Guard in Portland. The potential deployment stems from ongoing anti-ICE protests in the city.
During an appearance before an Oregon state Senate subcommittee last week, Brigadier General Alan R. Gronewold offered assurances to Portland residents, countering the president’s characterization of the city as “war ravaged” and in need of federalized National Guard intervention. Gronewold informed legislators that, if deployed, the two companies of soldiers would undergo training in “protective crowd control.”
General Gronewold articulated the dual mission of Guard soldiers: “One, to defend America, and two, to protect Oregonians. And so by serving in this mission, they will be protecting any protesters at the ICE facility.”
The prospect of federal deployment remains uncertain after Oregon Governor Tina Kotek ordered troops to return home. This decision followed two separate rulings by U.S.
District Court Judge Karin Immergut, which blocked the Trump administration from deploying any state’s National Guard within Oregon. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held a hearing on the administration’s appeal Thursday and indicated a ruling would be issued expeditiously.
Gronewold’s comments, which have resurfaced on social media this week, have drawn both commendation and criticism from various viewpoints. Some social media users have gone as far as to suggest he should face court-martial for treason due to his assertion that the Guard would protect protesters.
For his part, Gronewold clarified that the president’s federalization of the Guard would remove soldiers from his direct chain of command, placing them under the control of the U.S. Northern Command. He also noted that the meaning of President Trump’s social media post authorizing “full force” by the soldiers was unclear, stating the phrase is “not a doctrinal term that the Army uses.”
Concluding his remarks to the subcommittee, Gronewold urged lawmakers to help educate the public on the distinction between local Guard troops and federal law enforcement agents. “We’re the home team, and our job is to protect and serve Oregonians, and we follow lawful orders, and that’s what we’re doing,” he stated. “Please treat them with dignity and respect.”
Gronewold reiterated this sentiment in a September 29 letter addressed to troops. “I know some of you may have strong feelings about this mission.
That’s Okay. You are citizens first, but you’re also service members who took an oath to support and defend the Constitution and follow the orders of the President and the Governor,” Gronewold wrote.
“That oath doesn’t come with an asterisk that says, ‘Only when I agree with the mission.’”
When asked for comment regarding Gronewold’s statements, the White House avoided directly addressing his claim that the Guard would protect protesters at the Portland ICE facility. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson responded via email, stating, “ICE Officers are facing a 1,000% increase in assaults because of unhinged rhetoric from activists and Democrat politicians smearing heroic ICE officers.
Anyone who assaults or otherwise harms law enforcement officers will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” Jackson did not provide further comment when pressed to directly address Gronewold’s remarks.