Breaking News
Portland Police Chief, President Donald Trump React to Killing of Man Near Downtown Protests Saturday Night
President Donald Trump took to twitter Sunday morning to amplify messages excoriating Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and once again call for the National Guard to be deployed to the city following the killing of a man near downtown protests Saturday night.
Wheeler and Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell are scheduled to hold a press conference at noon, according to KOIN 6 News.
Police are continuing to seek information as they investigate the shooting, which took place downtown near competing demonstrations, one a pro-Trump car caravan and another a counter-protest by various opposing groups. The man killed was pictured in a photo published by Getty Images wearing a hat with the logo of Patriot Prayer, a far-right group has for years been at the center of multiple Portland demonstrations that often lead to violent clashes.
Portland police chief, President Donald Trump react to killing of man near downtown protests Saturday night https://t.co/dskw4fAOd9 pic.twitter.com/8wRFUbyuoG
— The Oregonian (@Oregonian) August 30, 2020
In a statement issued after 2 a.m. Sunday, Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said “this violence is completely unacceptable and we are working diligently to find and apprehend the individual or individuals responsible.” Lovell asked anyone with information about the incident to contact Portland police detectives.
Trump responded to the killing with tweets repeating some of his re-election talking points: that he will bring law and order to U.S. cities if he wins a second term, and that Democratic mayors, governors and other local officials are to blame when protests and violence happens in their communities.
“Our great National Guard could solve these problems in less than 1 hour,” the president wrote in one tweet. “Local authorities must ask before it is too late. People of Portland, and other Democrat run cities, are disgusted with Schumer, Pelosi, and thier (sic) local “leaders”. They want Law & Order!
Trump reiterated the promise that the National Guard would solve Portland’s problems, tweeting later Sunday morning that “all the governor has to do is call.”
— Hillary Borrud
(c)2020 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.)
Visit The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) at www.oregonian.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
UP NEXT:
