A Democratic Senator openly claimed Tuesday that the Trump Administration faked violent clashes between Antifa thugs and ICE officers in order to justify a federal surge.
Senator Jeff Merkley says that Trump “staged a fake riot” in order to invoke the Insurrection Act.
Merkley claims that peaceful protesters were marched three blocks and then confronted with “a line across the road, accompanied by “professional videographers.”
?UNHINGED: Dem Senator Jeff Merkley is now claiming the recent riots in Portland were "staged" to justify federal involvement.
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 8, 2025
"Totally fake!" pic.twitter.com/imsgaXFxFW
The Senator alleges that pepper balls, flashbangs sounding like gunfire, and tear gas were used, creating the appearance of a riot.
To be clear, he is suggesting that the Antifa leftists themselves are ACTORS.
“Of course when you put teargas everybody moves,” Merkley said, adding “It looks as if there is some kind of riot going on.”
He charged that the exchange was “Totally fake,” asserting that “This was first time I know at least in my lifetime that federal government has faked A RIOT in order to try and justify if you will the insurrection act being invoked.”
Yeah, because Portland is really a peaceful utopia where leftist agitators never cause any trouble.
Well, Mr. Merkley should take his family down there tonight and livestream his visit to the Portland ICE facility. If it's as safe as he claims, his wife and kids will be fine right? Especially if there's no danger at all
— ScrollofTruth (@ScrollofTruthIF) October 8, 2025
It’s unclear exactly which exchange Merkley is referring to, but rioting and attacks on the ICE facility in Portland has been going on almost every night for months.
BREAKING: Tear gas and pepper balls deployed outside Portland ICE Detention Center, multiple arrests pic.twitter.com/6blDNw3ylf
— Oliya Scootercaster ? (@ScooterCasterNY) October 4, 2025
Portland, OR. ICE. Tear gas was deployed several times. pic.twitter.com/Ahz4CAtUrn
— C.K. Bouferrache aka Honeybadgermom (@hunnybadgermom) September 2, 2025
?: Federal agents protecting ICE facility in Portland, Oregon use tear gas to repel anti-ICE crowd blocking the facility’s driveway.
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) October 4, 2025
Agents shot pepper balls at Antifa throwing tear gas canisters back and rushed into the crowd to make arrests.
pic.twitter.com/SWxIxDhvMx
Portland (July 4) — Shocking scenes outside the ICE facility as federal officers protecting the building use tear gas after Antifa rioters tried setting the occupied building on fire again. pic.twitter.com/UCJfk41X1f
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) July 5, 2025
Breaking — Federal police declare an unlawful assembly at the ICE facility in Portland.
— Katie Daviscourt ? (@KatieDaviscourt) July 5, 2025
Several arrests made as officers deploy endless tear gas, crowd control munitions to disperse crowd. pic.twitter.com/JWBpBalEoV
Half the criminal DemoParty is saying riots in Portland are not happening, while the other half is saying the riots that are happening are a setup.
— Truthis… (@PostPattonUS) October 8, 2025
I would expect nothing less of the criminal DemoParty and their supporters who will literally believe ANYTHING they are told to…
The secret plan to destroy the Democrat party called "Let Them Speak" is underway and working beautifully.
— Mike Schultz (@schult70031) October 8, 2025
Merkley’s demented remarks come in the wake of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker suggesting that Trump is deploying the National Guard to cities as part of a grand scheme to end elections in the U.S.
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Can you believe how moronic democrats are? They just keep proving themselves fools.
..wow, all that whining from ant!fa. as funny as it is annoying..
..i guess i can remove Portland OR off my list of retirement locations..
They are all at it, its part of the wef agenda and classic soros behaviour. They did it in germany during the weimar republic as well. Intentionally create chaos to justify new laws and dystopia. Your reporting is trying to suggest that dems and reps are not two cheeks of the same arse which is total lies. MAGA are actually uploading videos now apologising for their delusion. They call it the hegalian dialectic and mossad call it order out of chaos. All they are do is trying to install all the crap parts of china in the western world. At least china has modern futuristic cities. The US cities are like third world holes now thanks to your greatest ally and their owners. How can you have two seprate opposing parties when all the people are paid by the same aipac piper. Delusional!
Reality is their true enemy.