Posted For: Rotorblade
As President Trump continues his push to curb the wave of violence plaguing major U.S. cities, he’s facing strong resistance from Democrat-led states such as Oregon, Illinois, and California. Despite escalating crime and chaos, local officials and activist judges are fighting his efforts to restore order.
Over the weekend, an Oregon judge issued two rulings barring President Trump from deploying National Guard units from any state to Portland—an order the administration is now appealing. On Monday, Illinois filed its own lawsuit attempting to block potential federal intervention.
In response, President Trump made clear he’s prepared to use every lawful measure available, including the Insurrection Act of 1807, if state and local officials continue to obstruct efforts to protect citizens.
Trump: “We have an Insurrection Act for a reason. If I had to enact it, I’d do that.”
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) October 6, 2025
“We have an Insurrection Act for a reason,” President Trump said during an Oval Office appearance Monday afternoon. “I’d do it if it were necessary, but so far it hasn’t been necessary.” He noted that invoking the Act could be justified “if people were being killed and courts were holding us up, or mayors or governors were holding us up.”
Discussing Portland—one of the cities targeted for potential National Guard deployment—President Trump said the city had been “on fire for years,” adding, “I think that’s all insurrection, really criminal insurrection.”
Still, he emphasized restraint, saying, “If we don’t have to use it, I wouldn’t use it.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller blasted the legal challenges coming from liberal judges and state officials, calling their actions a form of “legal insurrection.”
“There is an effort to delegitimize the core function of the federal government—enforcing our immigration laws and our sovereignty,” Miller told CNN’s Boris Sanchez on Monday.
Trump JUST said he will invoke the Insurrection Act if Governors/Mayors refuse to enforce the law.
Well here is Illinois Governor, flanked by Chicago mayor, claiming they are going to drive ICE “thugs” out of Chicago.
This is an ACTUAL INSURRECTION!
— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) October 6, 2025
The Insurrection Act, passed in 1807 and amended in 1871, grants the president authority to deploy federal troops when local governments fail to maintain order. It was last invoked in 1992 by President George H. W. Bush at the request of California Governor Pete Wilson during the Los Angeles riots.
Throughout history, the Act has been invoked roughly 30 times, including by Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy—both of whom used it against the will of state governors to enforce school desegregation following the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954.
Democrat leaders have allowed America’s cities to descend into lawlessness for far too long. Their continued defiance makes one thing clear: for them, opposing President Trump takes priority over protecting their own residents.