Victor Davis Hanson: Portland Sides With Antifa on the Wrong Side of History

The Daily Signal

News, Government, Politics, Daily News

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 6 October 2025

⏱️ 7 minutes

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Summary

Portland, Oregon, is under siege. Antifa-style protesters have targeted federal ICE headquarters by blocking access, attacking officers, and daring Washington to respond. Now, President Trump wants to send federalized troops to restore order and uphold the law. On Sunday, a federal judge blocked President Trump’s move to send National Guard troops to Portland. Asked about the judge’s order, Trump told press Monday his administration is going to “look at that.” “Portland is burning to the ground. It’s insurrectionist all over the place,” the president said. Victor Davis Hanson explains why this isn’t just about one city or one protest—it’s about whether states can defy federal law altogether on today’s episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “Trump's point, I think, is different. He is saying that the city of Portland, by its nonenforcement, by intent—not just capability, by intent—it is allowing an area of Portland to be free of, exempt from the law. Local law, state law, but more importantly, federal law, too. “In other words, people can commit mayhem against federal personnel with impunity. And Donald Trump is saying that I have to protect the civil rights of those agents and that agency.” 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉If you can’t get enough of Victor Davis Hanson from The Daily Signal, subscribe to his official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273 👉He’s also the host of “The Victor Davis Hanson Show,” available wherever you prefer to watch or listen. Links to the show and exclusive content are available on his website: https://victorhanson.com (0:00) Federal Troops in Portland (0:36) Legal Justifications (2:04) The Role of Antifa (3:58) Historical Context (6:06) Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Donald Trump is sending federalized troops into Portland, Oregon because the ICE detention center and headquarters there is under veritable assault, especially in the night hours.
0:11.2	In other words, Antifa-like protesters surround the facility. They make it almost impossible to drive in and out, and they're trying to disrupt the idea itself that the federal government
0:21.6	has a right to apprehend illegal aliens that have warrants out for their deportation.
0:27.6	Some ways it's a lose-lose situation.
0:30.6	There's a lot of you listening who say, you know what, if Portland wants to destroy their city,
0:34.6	let them stew in their own Jews.
0:36.6	But Trump's point, I think, is different.
0:39.0	There is no legal justification for state nullification
0:43.0	of federal law.
0:44.0	Legally and morally, you're on the wrong side of history. Hello, this is Victor Davis-Hanson for the Daily Signal.
1:01.1	Donald Trump is sending federalized troops into Portland, Oregon, because the ICE detention center and headquarters there is under veritable assault, especially in the night
1:12.5	hours. In other words, Antifa-like protesters surround the facility. They make it almost impossible
1:19.4	to drive in and out, and they're trying to disrupt the idea itself that the federal government
1:25.0	has a right to apprehend illegal aliens that have warrants out for their deportation.
1:33.3	Why would Donald Trump want to get into that morass in Portland, Oregon?
1:37.3	Why would he want to incur such anger from liberal Portland?
1:41.3	I don't think he wants to. After all, he's going to be judged in the
1:45.5	November midterms on the economy, maybe the border, but not whether he went into Portland or
1:51.1	in some ways it's a lose-lose situation. There's a lot of you listening who say, you know what,
1:57.3	if Portland wants to destroy their city, let them stew in their own juice.
2:02.1	But Trump's point, I think, is different.
2:04.6	He is saying that the city of Portland, by its non-enforcement, by intent, not just capability, by intent, it is allowing an area of Portland to be free of exempt from the law, local law, state law, but more importantly, federal law too.
	...

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