In Portland, Oregon, residents are refuting President Donald Trump's depiction of their city as a war zone, showcasing its tranquil reality through social media and planning a naked bike ride protest. Trump, who claims to have seen Portland 'burning down to the ground' on television, has ordered military intervention despite denials from local officials.
Police made three arrests on Thursday after clashes between demonstrators and a pro-Trump influencer at an ICE field office, with 200 National Guard troops expected. However, a visit to the site showed fewer than ten protesters, nearly outnumbered by journalists, contradicting claims of a city under siege.
Frustrated residents are sharing Instagram and TikTok videos of verdant hiking trails, fall colours, and a thriving food scene. Plans are underway for an Emergency Naked Bike Ride against 'the militarization of our city'. Local businesses like Powell's Books and Providore Fine Foods report brisk trade, with owner Kaie Wellman calling Trump's portrayal '100% false' and potentially devastating for the local economy.
Wellman, opening a bistro in the Portland Art Museum's new $110m Rothko Pavilion, described her venture as 'a love letter to Portland'. She noted that the only disturbance she has witnessed is Black Hawk helicopters circling a neighbourhood of retirees, causing fear and sleeplessness.
At the ICE protest, US Army veteran Amanda Cochran held a sign reading 'Vets Against Militarization', underscoring local opposition to federal intervention in what residents see as a peaceful city.
