US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that there is tremendous lawlessness in the ‘liberal cities’ of America. Referring to the Portland protest, the President also said that its philosophy would eventually destroy America.

“There is tremendous lawlessness in America’s Liberal Cities. Would be so easy to stop but they have a clouded vision of what should be done. They are indoctrinated with a philosophy that will never work, a philosophy that would destroy America. Portland would be the norm,” Trump wrote on Twitter.

This is not the first time that the US President has made controversial comments on the Portland protests. Though widely criticised by opposition and activists, he had consistently defended the presence of federal officers in Portland. In an interview aired yesterday, Trump had referred to the protestors as “agitators” and “anarchists.”

Meanwhile, Portland protests have continued for the 69th day on Wednesday. Considering the demands of the protesters, Oregon Governor Kate Brown had said that there would be a phased withdrawal of federal officers.

Brown had referred to the federal officers as “an occupying force” that has “refused accountability and brought strife to the community.”

The administration had deployed federal officers in Portland in early June with the stated purpose to protect the downtown federal courthouse, which had become a focus of ongoing Black Lives Matter protests.  

However, the officers were criticized for aggressive shows of force and the use of tear gas and impact munitions in response to protesters.