A new claim by a Democratic senator is making waves online. Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon says the Trump administration “faked” riots to justify using military force. That’s a big accusation. But is it true?
Let’s take a closer look at what happened, what was said, and what the facts really show.
Last weekend, protests against ICE—the agency that enforces immigration laws—heated up in Portland, Oregon. Some of those protests turned violent. Protesters gathered outside an ICE building, and it wasn’t long before things got tense. According to a report from Oregon Public Broadcasting, federal agents pushed protesters away from the building and used tear gas. The action started around 8 p.m. and continued as officers moved protesters into nearby streets.
This wasn’t the first time Portland has seen protests like this. The city has been a hotspot for clashes between left-wing activists and federal law enforcement for years. But this time, something different happened.
Just hours before the federal officers stepped in, a judge blocked President Trump from sending 200 National Guard troops from Oregon into the city. The judge, Karin Immergut, said the situation didn’t meet the legal standard for a National Guard deployment. There was no “invasion” or “rebellion,” she said.
That’s where Senator Merkley stepped in. He told reporters that the Trump administration faked the riot to get around the judge’s ruling. He said federal agents were trying to provoke violence on purpose, so the president could claim things were out of control and bring in the troops anyway.
“This is authoritarianism, plain and simple,” Merkley said. He also posted on Facebook, accusing Trump of trying to incite violence by sending the California National Guard to Portland after the Oregon Guard was blocked.
So, is there any proof that the Trump administration faked the riot?
Here’s what we know: The report from Oregon Public Broadcasting describes federal agents using force to push back protesters. It does not say that the protest was fake or staged. It does not show that federal agents created the riot from nothing. The report simply describes what happened on the ground—protesters gathering, agents responding, and things escalating.
Also, it’s important to understand that the crowd outside the ICE building wasn’t peaceful. Videos and photos from journalists on the scene show fires, broken windows, and graffiti. Some protesters threw objects at officers. That’s not exactly a calm protest.
Senator Merkley is basing his claim on the timing of the federal response. He thinks it’s suspicious that agents acted right after the judge blocked the National Guard. But suspicion is not the same as evidence. There is no confirmed proof that the Trump administration “faked” anything.
In fact, Judge Immergut—the same judge who blocked the Oregon National Guard—was appointed by President Trump. That suggests the court ruling wasn’t political. She’s following the law, not a party line.
Merkley’s claim also ignores something else: The president has a duty to protect federal property and personnel. ICE facilities have been attacked during past protests. Agents have been injured. The federal government has the right to defend itself, especially when local leaders won’t.
A similar situation happened in Los Angeles earlier this year. When anti-ICE protests turned violent, President Trump sent in National Guard and Marine troops. California Governor Gavin Newsom called it “unprecedented” and claimed the president was using the military against Americans. But again, the troops were sent to protect federal buildings and agents under threat—not to silence peaceful protest.
In the end, Senator Merkley’s claim that the Trump administration faked a riot doesn’t hold up. There’s no solid proof. What we have are violent protests, a lawful court ruling, and a federal response to a real threat.
Accusing a president of staging violence is a serious charge. Without real evidence, it’s just political theater. The American people deserve truth, not spin. And in this case, the facts tell a very different story from the viral headlines.