Leaked Messages Reveal Plans to Deploy Army to Portland

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — In a significant intelligence leak, a senior White House official disclosed plans to deploy the elite 82nd Airborne Division to Portland, Oregon, a city frequently criticized by President Donald Trump. Anthony Salisbury, a deputy to White House adviser Stephen Miller, was observed using the Signal messaging app to discuss military actions in public while in Minnesota, leading to public concern over sensitive information being shared openly.

The messages, obtained by the Minnesota Star Tribune, were exchanged over the weekend as Salisbury communicated with Patrick Weaver, a senior adviser to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and other federal officials. Weaver wrote that Hegseth sought explicit approval from Trump before sending troops into the Democratic-run city, stating, “Between you and I, I think Pete just wants the top cover from the boss if anything goes sideways with the troops there.”

He expressed a preference for using the National Guard instead, due to potential backlash from deploying an elite army unit. “82nd is like our top tier [quick reaction force] for abroad. So it will cause a lot of headlines,” Weaver noted.

The 82nd Airborne Division is known for its specialized role in parachuting and has been deployed in numerous conflicts, including World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. Notably, its last commander was the final American soldier to leave Afghanistan in 2021.

On Sunday, Hegseth claimed 200 National Guard members would be deployed “immediately” to Portland. However, a report from NBC News affiliate stated that the National Guard had not yet been mobilized.

During a recent statement to the Star Tribune, Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, confirmed that Salisbury attended a family funeral in Minnesota. She defended his work, asserting that nothing in the conversations was classified or new information. “Tony continued his important work on behalf of the American people,” she said.

This incident marks another embarrassment for the Trump administration, following several previous leaks of sensitive information via Signal. In March, the editor of The Atlantic was inadvertently added to a chat involving high-ranking officials discussing military operations in Yemen.

These leaked messages indicate not only the ongoing discussions about military presence in American cities but also highlight the challenges and public backlash that such a deployment could invite.