Listen up, folks—Portland City Councilor Mitch Green just dropped a bombshell, calling on National Guard troops to outright reject deployment orders if they clash with the Constitution, as Fox News reports.
On October 21, 2025, Green doubled down on his stance against Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s insistence on following the chain of command, speaking out after a key court ruling partially cleared the way for Guard deployments to Portland, while offering support to soldiers wrestling with the legality of such orders.
Green has long argued that Guard members have a duty to disobey directives they believe violate the law, a position he reiterated in a recent CNN interview on October 21, 2025.
He emphasized that his own military service never forced him to confront an obviously unlawful order to deploy within a U.S. city, but he’s clear that today’s troops might face such a dilemma.
Green’s latest comments came hot on the heels of a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision, made just a day prior, to lift one of two temporary restraining orders blocking National Guard deployments to Portland.
However, Gov. Kotek maintains that since the second restraining order remains in place, no Guard members from Oregon or elsewhere can be sent to the city until it’s also overturned, according to NPR reports.
Green told CNN on October 21, 2025, “I respectfully disagree with the terminology in the oath of service.”
Well, that’s a bold stand, but isn’t it a stretch to tell troops to play judge and jury on orders? While the Constitution matters, undermining the chain of command risks chaos over clarity in a crisis.
Further, Green stated to CNN, “The oath of service says that you are obligated to follow the Constitution. You are to protect and serve the Constitution. Your duty is to the Constitution, and there may be times when you face an order from your chain of command that is illegal.”
Granted, soldiers shouldn’t blindly follow unjust orders, but Green’s call feels like a nudge toward progressive ideals over practical military discipline—where’s the line between moral courage and insubordination?
Although Green hasn’t heard directly from active-duty personnel, he noted that veterans linked to current troops report widespread confusion about whether deploying to Portland aligns with their mission.
He anticipates that if deployments happen in the coming days or weeks, Guard members will wake up each day questioning if their actions truly uphold constitutional values.
Green stands ready to assist any soldier who opts to defy orders, connecting them with resources to manage the legal fallout of such a choice.
He pointed out that the National Lawyers Guild Military Law Task Force provides a website and a handy pamphlet that troops can carry for access to support networks.
As conservatives, we respect the rule of law and military structure, but let’s hope this situation doesn’t devolve into a leftist-driven standoff—our troops deserve clear guidance, not political gamesmanship, to serve with honor while protecting American cities.
