
Blue Press Journal – A growing number of Republican senators are voicing concerns over President Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops from other states to Portland, Oregon, and Chicago, despite opposition from the Democratic governors of those states. The move has escalated tensions between federal and state authorities, with many lawmakers warning of a dangerous precedent.
The conflict reached a boiling point over the weekend when Trump announced plans to send National Guard soldiers to Oregon and Illinois, defying the objections of Governors Tina Kotek and JB Pritzker. The decision was all the more contentious given a federal judge’s ruling on Saturday that the administration could not federalize Oregon’s National Guard to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Portland.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) expressed his worries about the potential consequences of Trump’s actions, saying, “I worry about someday a Democrat president sending troops or National Guard from New York, California, Oregon, Washington state to North Carolina. I think it’s bad precedent.” He added that the move contradicts conservative views on states’ rights, stating, “If you look at this particular issue, I don’t see how you can argue that this comports with any sort of conservative view of states’ rights.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) also voiced her concerns, stating that she is “worried about the precedent of sending National Guard members from one state to another despite the objections of those states’ governors.” She emphasized that the use of the National Guard to respond to natural disasters, when requested by a governor, is a common and acceptable practice. However, she warned that Trump’s actions are crossing a dangerous line, saying, “I am concerned, I am very apprehensive about the use of our military for policing and, more, the politicization that we’re seeing within the military.”
The growing unease among Republican senators reflects concern about the erosion of states’ rights and potential power abuses. As the situation unfolds, the resolution and its implications for federal-state relations remain uncertain. Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops without state governors’ consent has ignited a debate about executive power limits and the need to preserve states’ rights.




