The President of the United States warned more troops could be sent to cities such as New York, Chicago and Philadelphia following spikes in crime. On Sunday, Mr Trump published a string of tweets branding the demonstrators in Portland as “anarchists”, while reinforcing his position on the deployment of federal troops to the city.
The President wrote: “We are trying to help Portland, not hurt it.
“Their leadership has, for months, lost control of the anarchists and agitators.”
He added: “They are missing in action. We must protect Federal property, and our people.
“These were not merely protesters, these are the real deal!”
Mr Trump’s defence of his actions came after federal officers teargassed a group of mothers who formed a human barrier between demonstrators and the troops during a Black Lives Matter protest.
The demonstrations have been held in Portland almost every night for two months since unarmed black man George Floyd was killed at the hands of a police officer on May 25.
On Monday, Mr Trump warned the troops would remain in Portland, adding that he was thinking of sending troops to other cities he considered “totally out of control”.
Speaking from the White House, Mr Trump said: “Portland was totally out of control.
“The Democrats – all liberal Democrats running the place – had no idea what they were doing.”
READ MORE: Part of Princess Beatrice wedding royal brides have done for 100 years
He claimed the crime rate in New York is up “348 percent”.
He even claimed the number of shootings in Chicago over the weekend – 63 – is “worse than Afghanistan”.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler spoke to CNN over the weekend about the federal troops.
He said: “They are not wanted here. We haven’t asked them here. In fact, we want them to leave.”
Speaking to National Public Radio about the problematic of federal law enforcement being deployed, Mr Wheeler claimed that local law enforcement is the way to go.