Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

orangecrush

(27,000 posts)
Mon Oct 6, 2025, 07:15 PM Oct 6

Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act in Portland

Source: The Hill

President Trump on Monday said he was considering invoking the Insurrection Act to justify sending federal troops into Portland, Ore., and avoid any legal hurdles.

Trump in remarks from the Oval Office likened the situation in Portland to an “insurrection,” though he said he had yet to make a decision on invoking the Insurrection Act.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/5541608-portland-protests-trump-insurrection/

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump threatens to invoke Insurrection Act in Portland (Original Post) orangecrush Oct 6 OP
This has to stop.............. Lovie777 Oct 6 #1
He threatened that in 2020. Is it a bone to eastern Oregon MAGA territory? bucolic_frolic Oct 6 #2
Gaslighting every step of the way. no_hypocrisy Oct 6 #3
Seems SCROTUS Six are co-conspirators. Kid Berwyn Oct 7 #24
Humanitarian drumpf cares about the wellbeing of our citizens JoseBalow Oct 6 #4
And our elections dweller Oct 6 #5
well isn't that special Skittles Oct 6 #6
Its easy to see where this is heading. orangecrush Oct 6 #7
yes Skittles Oct 6 #10
Wouldn't it be nice to see tomorrow's headline: joshdawg Oct 7 #23
Came here to say something like this. No need AKwannabe Oct 6 #9
TACO CosmicSloth Oct 6 #8
that's always been the plan North Coast Lawyer Oct 6 #11
If he tries, will the 9th Circuit (Justice Kagan's district) or SCOTUS stop him. ancianita Oct 6 #12
The criteria for the act cannot be met. TomSlick Oct 6 #14
Understood. Yet, he's sure some city or state can be provoked by his unremoved military occupation. ancianita Oct 6 #15
He's constructing a "reality"... Septua Oct 6 #17
Which is...? ancianita Oct 6 #18
To be King of America Septua Oct 7 #21
..or maybe it's just distraction... Septua Oct 7 #22
What good it does to reform to the outdated law when... Justice matters. Oct 7 #20
And how far behind will Chicago be? greatauntoftriplets Oct 6 #13
The nation is under siege pfitz59 Oct 6 #16
Okay, how do we combat this? Bayard Oct 6 #19

bucolic_frolic

(52,795 posts)
2. He threatened that in 2020. Is it a bone to eastern Oregon MAGA territory?
Mon Oct 6, 2025, 07:18 PM
Oct 6

Why doesn't he go up there and wave his Bible upside down? Get that old magic going again.

no_hypocrisy

(53,423 posts)
3. Gaslighting every step of the way.
Mon Oct 6, 2025, 07:19 PM
Oct 6

January 6, 2020/D.C.: No insurrection

October 6, 2025/Portland: INSURRECTION!!!!!

Skittles

(168,116 posts)
6. well isn't that special
Mon Oct 6, 2025, 07:40 PM
Oct 6

the fucktard who incited an insurrection wants to invoke the Insurrection Act

fascist fuck

joshdawg

(2,880 posts)
23. Wouldn't it be nice to see tomorrow's headline:
Tue Oct 7, 2025, 06:58 AM
Oct 7

TRUMP DEAD!!!
Overdose of macdonald's hamberders.


I can only wish.

North Coast Lawyer

(216 posts)
11. that's always been the plan
Mon Oct 6, 2025, 08:02 PM
Oct 6

It's pretty damn obvious that this has always been Trump's end game.

His lap dogs at the Supreme Court will can yet another opportunity to real Trump in. I'm not holding my breath.

ancianita

(42,300 posts)
12. If he tries, will the 9th Circuit (Justice Kagan's district) or SCOTUS stop him.
Mon Oct 6, 2025, 08:47 PM
Oct 6

Because the non-maga justices know that the felon's goal is to eventually declare martial law, which suspends the US Constitution and InstituteS military control over civilian parts of government.

And yes, in preparation for that Hegseth and trump have created a lawless sector within the military that would betray their oaths.

The signs are clear.

trump's unstated goal is military dictatorship -- originally sold to the public, lest we forget, as only "dictator on day one."

from DeepMind AI:

Insurrection Act vs. martial law
The Insurrection Act is not the same as declaring martial law, which involves the temporary takeover of civilian government functions by the military.

While martial law can lead to a temporary suspension of certain civil liberties, the president does not have the constitutional authority to unilaterally declare it or suspend the writ of habeas corpus without Congress's consent.

Limitations on presidential power
The Insurrection Act is a law passed by Congress that empowers the president to act under specific, limited circumstances, as opposed to an inherent executive power to suspend the Constitution.
While the president has broad discretion to invoke the act, it is intended for use as a last resort in a crisis that overwhelms civilian authorities. [Which he intends to do by occupying blue states.]

Historical use of the Insurrection Act has often occurred when state authorities were unwilling or unable to protect constitutional rights, as seen during the Civil Rights Movement.

Legal scholars have called for reform to the outdated law to
a) define the criteria for invocation more clearly,
b) impose time limits, and
c) allow for mandated judicial review.

TomSlick

(12,755 posts)
14. The criteria for the act cannot be met.
Mon Oct 6, 2025, 09:02 PM
Oct 6

The states are capable of enforcing the civil law.

ancianita

(42,300 posts)
15. Understood. Yet, he's sure some city or state can be provoked by his unremoved military occupation.
Mon Oct 6, 2025, 09:09 PM
Oct 6

Septua

(2,895 posts)
21. To be King of America
Tue Oct 7, 2025, 01:18 AM
Oct 7

Everything he's doing is some form of what previous dictators did to achieve dictatorship. He has control over Congress, control over the military, control over DOJ and thumbs his nose at Constitutional limits on his authority. It's just a matter of time before he decides to ignore court rulings against him and who's going to make him do otherwise?

But you knew all that...right?

The Five Steps Towards Autocracy

https://www.persuasion.community/p/the-five-steps-towards-autocracy

Justice matters.

(8,997 posts)
20. What good it does to reform to the outdated law when...
Tue Oct 7, 2025, 12:27 AM
Oct 7

the new dictator in town (DC) does not care about any law?

(And the repukes in Congress don't care that he doesn't care about any law.)

Bayard

(27,399 posts)
19. Okay, how do we combat this?
Mon Oct 6, 2025, 11:51 PM
Oct 6

It doesn't sound like something a lawsuit will cure. I think its in our immediate future, and we better start game planning.

Our military swears an oath to protect the Constitution, not the president, not the president's whims. I wish we had a means to re-enforce that with them.

I haven't seen anything from Michael Beschloss, presidential historian, in quite awhile, and can't find anything online. I'd like to hear his take on all this.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Trump threatens to invoke...