‘Let Us Know’: Trump Talks ‘Criminals’ Wrecking OR Fed Bldg., Puts Dem Officials on Notice

Quick summary: a left-wing mob smashed up a federal courthouse in Eugene, Oregon, frightening staff and leaving heavy damage; journalists captured the chaos; President Trump warned local officials that federal forces will protect federal property and pushed responsibility back to state and local leaders unless they request help; he vowed tougher response and named the kinds of actors he blames for the violence.

Late on Friday into Saturday, a group of radical left protesters attacked a federal courthouse in Eugene, Oregon, doing major property damage and terrifying courthouse employees. Video from independent reporters shows the disorder up close and the scope of the vandalism. This was not a peaceful demonstration — windows were broken and federal property was clearly targeted.

Independent journalists like Andy Ngo and Kate Harnedy shared photo and video evidence from the scene, documenting how the crowd behaved and how law enforcement responded. Those on the ground captured moments that local law enforcement either could not or would not stop. The footage paints a clear picture of organized chaos and deliberate attacks on government facilities.

Katie Daviscourt posted a morning clip that revealed the full extent of the damage: shattered glass, smashed doors, and signs of forced entry that made clear the assault was coordinated. Courthouse employees were visibly shaken and reported harassment in addition to property damage. The federal building was left in a state that will require significant repair and a tougher security posture going forward.

Local reporting confirmed the scene was terrifying for everyday people who had nothing to do with DHS or ICE. Residents and courthouse staff alike were put at risk by a group that treated public property like a target. The situation highlights how these demonstrations can spill over from political protest into direct threats against civilians and public servants.

Across the country, police departments are seeing more incidents of anti-ICE and anti-government violence that disrupt ordinary life. When rioters start targeting federal agents or buildings, the consequences ripple into communities that rely on stable, predictable law enforcement. This uptick in aggression complicates policing and forces federal officials to reevaluate their posture in liberal-run cities.

President Trump posted a statement on Truth Social addressing the Eugene incident and the broader pattern of attacks on federal property. He made it clear federal forces will protect their facilities and personnel, and he named the types of agitators he says are responsible. His message framed the response as both practical protection and a warning to permissive local officials.

We will, however, guard, and very powerfully so, any and all Federal Buildings that are being attacked by these highly paid Lunatics, Agitators, and Insurrectionists. Please be aware that I have instructed ICE and/or Border Patrol to be very forceful in this protection of Federal Government Property. There will be no spitting in the faces of our Officers, there will be no punching or kicking the headlights of our cars, and there will be no rock or brick throwing at our vehicles, or at our Patriot Warriors. If there is, those people will suffer an equal, or more, consequence.

He reminded state and local officials that protecting federal property is their duty first, and federal intervention is a backup. The administration’s stance is simple: local governments must secure their own courthouses and parks, and only if they request help will federal forces step in. That insistence flips responsibility back to city halls that have been reluctant to confront violent mobs.

In addition, it is your obligation to also protect our Federal Property, Buildings, Parks, and everything else. We are there to protect Federal Property, only as a back up, in that it is Local and State Responsibility to do so.

Trump pointed to prior instances where federal support was praised by local law enforcement, arguing that federal help can restore order quickly and effectively when called for. He used the example to show the federal option works when permitted, and to critique local leaders who block their own police from acting. The underlying message: get serious about law and order or federal forces will have to take control.

Last night in Eugene, Oregon, these criminals broke into a Federal Building, and did great damage, also scaring and harassing the hardworking employees. Local Police did nothing in order to stop it. We will not let that happen anymore! If Local Governments are unable to handle the Insurrectionists, Agitators, and Anarchists, we will immediately go to the location where such help is requested, and take care of the situation very easily and methodically…

The president finished by laying down a rule for local leaders: clearly ask for help, and federal resources will respond; refuse or obstruct, and federal patience will wear thin. His tone was direct and unapologetic, aimed at mayors and governors who have resisted tougher policing. For those who have allowed permissiveness to flourish, the warning was blunt: consider yourselves on notice.

This incident in Eugene underscores the tension between federal responsibility to protect its assets and local authority over policing. When protesters cross the line into criminal behavior, federal protection becomes unavoidable. The political debate now centers on whether local officials will step up or force federal intervention by default.