Gov. Tina Kotek on Saturday said she attempted to correct President Donald Trump’s perception that Portland is “war ravaged,” telling him that local and state leaders “can manage our own local public safety needs” without federal troops.
“There is no insurrection,” Kotek told Trump in what aides described as a cordial 7-minute phone call in her car en route to Portland.
Kotek discussed the call during a news conference Saturday afternoon at Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park, some seven hours after Trump announced on social media that he authorized federal troops to be sent into Portland.
Kotek was circumspect as she described the conversation, emphasizing how she tried to persuade the president that Portland does not have a problem, while seemingly avoiding any disparaging remarks that co