Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Ignites Portland Furor, Calls Local Leaders ‘Pansies’

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s visit to Portland yesterday, October 7th, has sparked significant controversy, particularly after she publicly derided local elected officials as ‘pansies’ during an appearance on Fox News.

Noem surveyed the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building, a site that has seen ongoing protests since early June. Her visit occurs amidst a heated dispute between the city and the federal government concerning President Donald Trump’s plans to deploy federal troops to Portland, a move the president stated was at Noem’s request.

While Portland police Chief Bob Day met twice with Noem in an effort to build a relationship with federal partners, local leaders voiced strong opposition to the federal approach. Mayor Keith Wilson criticized federal agent tactics as troubling and potentially unconstitutional, demanding federal officers adhere to the same high standards as the Portland Police Bureau regarding use of force, officer identification, and body cameras. Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell affirmed support for partnerships that ‘complement our local public safety priorities, respect Oregon law and are predicated on accountability and transparency.’ Governor Tina Kotek also met with Noem, reiterating that ‘there is no insurrection in Oregon.’

Noem, however, used her Fox News platform to criticize local leadership, stating, ‘We wanted to have their streets opened up again and to not let the anarchists run this city anymore.’ She accused local officials of ‘just letting our officers hang out to dry’ and called for more security at the ICE building. Her remarks came as approximately 20 people, mostly reporters, gathered behind police tape during her visit to the facility.

Protests at the ICE facility, though smaller than the social justice demonstrations of 2020, have intensified following Trump’s troop announcement. Since June, around 70 individuals have been arrested on various allegations, and federal police have deployed chemical munitions against demonstrators. The duration of Noem’s stay and the full scope of federal enforcement actions in Portland remain unclear.

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