“President Trump exercised his lawful authority to protect federal assets and personnel in Portland following violent riots and attacks on law enforcement,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement Sunday that members of the California National Guard were being reassigned from the Los Angeles area to Portland “to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal personnel performing official duties, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property.”

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, confirmed that some of the troops had flown into Oregon on Saturday night and said “it is our understanding that there are more on the way today.”