"AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein Trump administration officials privately discussed sending one of the country's most hardened combat units into Portland, Oregon, leaked Signal messages reveal. Anthony Salisbury, a top deputy to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, was reportedly exchanging messages with War Secretary Pete Hegseth's adviser Patrick Weaver over Signal in a crowded public space last weekend while traveling in Minnesota to a family funeral. The alarmed source shared images of the exchange with the Minnesota Star Tribune under condition of anonymity."
"According to the newspaper the texts reveal discussions about deploying the 82nd Airborne Division to Portland, a unit better known for parachuting into World War battlefields and Afghanistan than patrolling American streets. Between you and I, I think Pete just wants the top cover from the boss if anything goes sideways with the troops there, wrote Weaver. Another message acknowledged the political cost of such a move: 82nd is like our top tier for abroad. So it will cause a lot of headlines."
Leaked Signal messages reveal senior administration officials privately discussed deploying the 82nd Airborne Division to Portland. Messages involved Anthony Salisbury and adviser Patrick Weaver and took place in a crowded public space while traveling in Minnesota. One message described desire for presidential cover if troops encounter trouble; another noted the 82nd's high-profile status would attract headlines. The administration ultimately ordered 200 National Guard troops to Portland on September 28. Oregon and the city of Portland sued to block the deployment as violating federal limits on domestic military use. The exchanges also included insults toward the FBI director and a hostile White House response toward reporters.
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