Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem didn’t mince words during a Tuesday visit to Portland. After a tense meeting with Mayor Keith Wilson, Noem appeared on Fox News and issued what many are calling an outright threat. (Watch the video below.)
“If he did not follow through on some of these security measures for our officers, we were going to cover him up with more federal resources and that we were going to send four times the amount of federal officers here so that the people of Portland could have some safety,” Noem said.
Then came the real bombshell: “He’s going to have blood on his hands because he sat around and thought too long, because he was too scared of the political ramifications of making a big decision to keep his city safe.”
Noem flew to Portland to tour a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility that’s become a flashpoint for protests. The visit comes amid ongoing legal battles between Oregon and the Trump administration over deploying federal troops in the city. But the showdown escalated after her closed-door meeting with Wilson.
“I was so extremely disappointed,” she said of the conversation. “He’s continuing to play politics.”
Noem claimed Wilson refused to commit to her demands for additional security protections and framed his hesitation as dangerous.
“That’s my concern, is that you’ve got so many people here in Portland playing politics. They don’t realize they’re up against professional terrorists,” she said.
Noem’s language was blunt, and her tone was confrontational.
Mayor Wilson, for his part, took a more cautious route in his public response. Without naming Noem directly, he said Portland is handling things just fine without federal interference.
“What the secretary saw in Portland matches our reports: Portland continues to manage public safety professionally and responsibly, irrespective of the claims of out-of-state social media influencers,” Wilson said.
He also pushed back on the administration’s hardline rhetoric and hinted at deeper concerns about the government’s plans.
“In terms of recent rhetoric, we still do not know what ‘Full Force’ against Portland means, or how the administration plans to use our city as a military ‘training ground.’ Because of these deeply concerning situational unknowns, I intend to explore options to protect our community and our right to free expression.”
Noem’s remarks add fuel to an already volatile situation. Trump has repeatedly painted Portland as “war ravaged,” a narrative local leaders continue to reject.
“This is just one small block in a big city,” Portland Police Chief Bob Day told reporters earlier this week, referring to the area surrounding the ICE facility.
Adding to the legal drama, a federal judge on Sunday blocked the Trump administration from sending National Guard troops into Oregon, citing a lack of evidence to support the move. The government is appealing that ruling.
Still, Noem’s comments indicate that Portland is firmly in the administration’s sights. And with statements like “blood on his hands,” it’s clear the war of words is turning into something far more serious.
Watch the video below:
