Seattle’s mayor and the state attorney general have called on President Donald Trump to refrain from sending federal troops to the city. This appeal follows Trump’s announcement regarding the deployment of the Oregon National Guard to nearby Portland, raising concerns that Seattle could face similar actions.
During a press conference on October 9, 2023, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell emphasized, “We do not need the federal government bringing in armored vehicles, semiautomatic weapons, military personnel to make us ‘safer.’ There is not an insurrection here.” He firmly stated, “Our message today is very clear: Stay out of Seattle.”
Local leaders have voiced their apprehensions over federal interventions. Just last week, Trump suggested relocating the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches out of Seattle due to purported safety concerns. Additionally, Donald Trump Jr. previously referred to Seattle and Portland as “craphole cities,” hinting at potential troop deployments.
At the press conference, Harrell was joined by Attorney General Nick Brown, Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes, Fire Chief Harold Scoggins, and City Council members. Notably absent was City Attorney Ann Davison, a Republican who has been part of discussions regarding troop deployments.
Both Harrell and Brown indicated they have yet to receive any communication from the federal government concerning plans for Seattle. In response to potential troop deployments, Harrell plans to issue an executive order aimed at facilitating community communication and preserving local control. This order is intended to “strengthen our policies to prevent unconstitutional and unlawful encroachment” within the city.
Federal officials are active in Portland, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the dispatch of 200 Oregon National Guard members for a two-month period. Their mission is to protect federal property and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. This deployment has already prompted legal action from the state and city against the Trump administration, with protests occurring outside the ICE facility in Portland.
Seattle’s concerns mirror broader tensions as federal troops have been deployed in cities such as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Legal battles ensued after these deployments, with a federal judge recently ruling that sending troops to California violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military intervention in domestic law enforcement.
In the case of the California deployment, Trump cited federal law that permits the president to mobilize National Guard troops during instances of “rebellion or danger of rebellion.” Washington, D.C., has also initiated a lawsuit over federal troop deployment.
Notably, after the military presence in California in June, Governor Bob Ferguson and other leaders urged for peaceful protests to avoid provoking federal intervention in Washington state. Brown stated that his office is preparing for any potential troop deployment in Seattle. He remarked, “The only thing consistent from the president’s policy is that he indeed is attacking the people in places that didn’t vote for him or that he views as an opposition.”
Brown recently attended a conference in Washington, D.C., where he witnessed the impact of military policing. He described the atmosphere as “unprecedented” and “un-American,” highlighting the fear felt by residents and business owners in the area.
Mayor Harrell is expected to connect with Gent Welsh, Washington’s National Guard Adjutant General, to discuss the situation further. Ferguson, who was out of state for vacation and work-related travel until October 9, has been in communication with officials in Oregon about troop-related matters.
As Seattle leaders work to maintain local control and prevent federal intervention, the situation continues to evolve, reflecting the complex relationship between state and federal authorities in addressing public safety concerns.
