VIDEO: After other West Coast troop deployments, Seattle mayor, Washington attorney general tell feds, ‘Stay out of Seattle’

Mayor Bruce Harrell, state Attorney General Nick Brown, the city’s public-safety and others stood shoulder-to-shoulder at City Hall this morning to send the president a message: “Stay out of Seattle.” This follows the federal orders sending troops to other major West Coast cities. Above is Seattle Channel video of what they all had to say at City Hall this morning. “There are no insurrections here,” Harrell said. “I believe in a better country … I just wish our president understood this and believed in it as well.” Harrell said he’ll be issuing an executive order laying out “how we’ll protect our rights” if any deployment is ordered. Brown said that sending troops to Los Angeles, Portland, and D.C. are clearly part of a presidential strategy “to push our Constitution to the brink.” He said they’re staying in contact with the other cities and states and will be “ready to respond” if there’s a threat of the same thing here.

Lauren September 29, 2025 (2:58 pm)

Not a Harrell fan, but very grateful to see him doing this.

Tax Payer September 29, 2025 (3:27 pm)

You don’t speak for me. Bring them in.

Curious September 29, 2025 (9:11 pm)

What exactly are you proposing they “bring them in” to solve? What precise problem are you personally suffering that requires federal intervention? Why are you undermining SPD by implying they’re ineffective? And are you 100% confident that the feds you so eagerly invite won’t see you as part of said problem?
- Tax Payer September 30, 2025 (11:03 am)
  
  What exactly are you proposing they “bring them in” to solve? SPD being down 400+ officers and having patrol help out in public is good. What precise problem are you personally suffering that requires federal intervention? Crime and not enough patrol officers to deter it. Why are you undermining SPD by implying they’re ineffective? SPD patrol officers welcome the help And are you 100% confident that the feds you so eagerly invite won’t see you as part of said problem?I do not look at help coming in as a bad thing. My question to you is why are you so happy to protect the criminals and eager to keep law abiding citizens in fear?
  - Frog September 30, 2025 (11:57 am)
    
    So far it seems that Trump has used two quite different justifications for sending in federal troops into cities: 1) to protect federal government agents and facilities (ICE) as in LA and Portland; and 2) to perform general law enforcement when the city government has allegedly shirked its responsibility, as in DC and Memphis. Not sure which justification would be used in Seattle (or if it’s even a real possibility), but if (1), the facilities seem to be more in Tukwila and Tacoma, not Seattle. If (2), it seems to be in plain violation of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878. Ironically, restrictions on use of federal troops for law enforcement were originally pushed by southerners who wanted a free hand to set up their Jim Crow regime, but still it’s the law, and has been for a long time. You could also question whether it really works in regard to street crime. Who is going to prosecute the people arrested by federal soldiers?
  - Another Kyle September 30, 2025 (12:28 pm)
    
    Hilarious if you think troops coming in is going to help anything if you look at what they did (or the lack thereof) in D.C. They’re going to be stationed in places like Pike Place and Seattle Center for maximum visibility and grandstanding while they ignore areas that are actually in need of cleaning up, like Little Saigon.
    - Tax Payer September 30, 2025 (3:25 pm)
      
      What are you afraid of? Peace?
    - Josh September 30, 2025 (7:47 pm)
      
      They are afraid of war. We already have peace, if you think this city isn’t peaceful then you need to travel more.
  - Void October 1, 2025 (10:47 am)
    
    You know they wouldn’t just come in to help out SPD with public disturbances and vandalism, right? Trump wants to send them in to keep SEATTLE in check–as in, you and me and everyone else–because he wants everyone to believe Seattle is a hotbed of liberal terrorism or some such nonsense. His intent isn’t innocuous federal support. The whole protection rhetoric is a dog whistle. He doesn’t want to protect YOU.
  - 22blades October 2, 2025 (8:08 am)
    
    You don’t seem to understand that law enforcement & military action are two entirely different skillsets. I don’t think there are many troops that even know how & when to advise the detained of their Miranda Rights.

jf September 29, 2025 (3:31 pm)

Kinda ironic that the following story is about a car and ebike getting stolen.

WS Res September 29, 2025 (8:14 pm)

Definitely a reason for martial law.
Teeb September 29, 2025 (9:31 pm)

A car and an e-bike? Sounds like a job for Seal Team 6!!!
Derek September 29, 2025 (10:38 pm)

Oh no not a bike! For crying out loud we are talking about human life here!

Marcus September 29, 2025 (3:35 pm)

Just a couple of things: while I do not like the tactics of ICE detaining immigrants. I would rather see an amnesty for non criminal immigrants, but that is not going to happen. I am severely disappointed in the left because they have not adopted the teachings of Martin Luther King jr and denounced violence. Some have yes, but as a unified political movement this has not happened. Also if someone throws a rock at a federal official including ICE agents I hope they will be charged with an assault felony. Even Bruce Springsteen is disappointed with the democrats and that says something.

Jeff September 29, 2025 (7:49 pm)

Non violent protest is self indulgence, and does nothing but make the people involved in it feel better about themselves for having “done something”
- Marcus September 30, 2025 (5:35 am)
  
  Advocating violence eh? Way to go Jeff! You will go real far in life right up to the brick wall you have built for yourself.
- WW Resident September 30, 2025 (6:15 am)
  
  So you’re advocating for violent protests then?
- Frog September 30, 2025 (9:52 am)
  
  Problem is, violent protest legitimates violence from the other side. If you go that way, 1) you better be sure you can win, and that the collateral damage from crushing your opponents is not worse than what you would have experienced by sticking with non-violent protest to start with; or 2) you know you can’t win, either through democratic process or through street fighting, and you are counting on over-reaction by your opponents to somehow eventually swing popular opinion to your side. The latter approach has been tried many times in many places, and the result is never so beautiful as you might hope.
- N in Seattle September 30, 2025 (12:12 pm)
  
  “self indulgence” “nothing but make the people involved in it feel better about themselves”
  
  Tell that to Martin Luther King and Mohandas Gandhi, Jeff.
Sam September 30, 2025 (10:05 am)

The ongoing No Kings protests have been the largest in American history and explicitly non-violent.

Rhonda September 29, 2025 (3:49 pm)

I hope Bruce Harrell enjoys his retirement in November.

EVGuy September 29, 2025 (4:15 pm)

Great posturing by Harrell but ultimately pointless. Is Trump going to give a flying fig what “mayor” whatshisface says? No, and he’ll probably be happier to do it after they said so, since this whole thing is just hand waving on his part anyway. The only thing that’s going to make any difference is a court ruling. Until then you’re just wasting time.

Jimmy September 29, 2025 (7:42 pm)

Well said. Too much meaningless posturing these days, fight it out in court. This current Presidency has shown they will push the envelope but thus far have appealed and respected judicial rulings. Courts people, not words.

MyThruppence September 29, 2025 (4:57 pm)

I’ll keep my right to self-determinitation thank you very much. I’ll keep the protection from tyrants afforded under Posse Comitatus thank you very much. I will keep my right to travel unencumbered by on-the-spot citizenship tests thank you very much. I will also keep my inherent and inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Karen September 29, 2025 (6:25 pm)

I have Hope at home.

Citizen Joe September 29, 2025 (7:30 pm)

Fascism is here. It’s up to We The People to decide if we’ll keep our Republic, or let it slip away from our hands.

Derek September 29, 2025 (10:35 pm)

That starts with not being fascist to the poor and homeless. FYI. Which is Bruce’s specialty. Also he just helped ICE by approving a massive surveillance network. Bruce is a joke.

WSDUDEMAN September 29, 2025 (8:19 pm)

States have to allow Federal Immigration enforcement to take place with their respective jurisdictions. They don’t have to help out, but they cannot impede nor obstruct. Civics was fun in Junior High. Based on what has occurred in other cities, if you aren’t in the United States illegally, or aren’t attacking your local federal building or officers, you won’t have a problem. You can dislike Trump and still understand what they are doing. Is it a hard-handed approach? Sure. Is it a ‘threat to our sacred democracy’ as some like to say? No. Hyperbolic statements usually come from ol’ Trump, but are also used on the other side to create fear and suspicion around Federal actions.

bill September 29, 2025 (10:48 pm)

Let me fix your statement: “Based on what has occurred … if you are white … you won’t have a problem.” Free article from a real newspaper: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/us/trump-immigration-agents-us-citizens.html?unlocked_article_code=1.p08.18-B.l2UyyuTCGJFg&smid=url-share
- WS Urbanist September 30, 2025 (9:28 am)
  
  Right you are, Bill. Supreme Court ruled that ICE agents in LA can detain people based on skin color and/or whether they are speaking Spanish. Just a matter of time before that is allowed throughout the whole country.
B September 30, 2025 (12:11 am)

To decide if troops in the street is part of a threat to democracy, look at the whole picture that this administration paints. Creating groups of ‘enemies’ to bond loyalist together in hate, consolidating power into the executive branch, installing sycophants in cabinet positions and throughout the federal government, intimidation of private businesses, attacking institutions including the free press, expressing admiration for dictators, constant hate speech, preaching extreme nationalism, alienating our longtime allies, etc.

B September 29, 2025 (9:14 pm)

I would encourage people to read up on the methods that authoritarians use to seize power. Normalizing the use of the military or quasi-military forces in civilian areas is certainly one of the methods. The Trump administration seems to be checking many other boxes that might lead to one to believe that a nefarious plan is afoot.

Ex-Westwood Resident September 29, 2025 (9:31 pm)

If city, county or state police won’t, or are forbidden, in assisting Federal LEO’s in protecting FEDERAL property, buildings, personnel and assets who will?

The FEDERAL government (Executive Branch) is responsible for the PROTECTION Federal property, including personnel, from violence and vandalism.

We have a Federal DISTRICT courthouse and the Federal Building that houses MOST of the Federal agencies. Did the SPD, KCSO, SP protect the buildings earlier this year?

NO!!! They did not.

If it takes FEDERAL LEO’s, or even military troops to accomplish that, the President, ANY PRESIDENT regardless of party affiliation, has the expressed RIGHT and DUTY to accomplish that by ANY means he sees fit.

Derek September 29, 2025 (10:40 pm)

Really hope to see a Katie Wilson article on here soon. I think it would be good for the blog to cover the top primary getter for mayor before the Election Day… given this is a clear Bruce PR stunt.

Ivan Weiss September 30, 2025 (8:06 am)

I don’t live in Seattle, so I don’t have a vote, nor a dog in this fight, but this comment, “given this is a clear Bruce PR stunt,” is just plain silly. However the election turns out in November, Bruce Harrell is the mayor of Seattle today, and as such it is legitimate that he comment when asked about the possibility of Trump sending troops to Seattle, as he has to Portland. If Katie Wilson is elected mayor, then she can deal with these questions. But not until then.
Marcus September 30, 2025 (1:37 pm)

I would not want to see Katie Wilson go up against the feds. She does not have the experience.
- Ivan Weiss September 30, 2025 (4:30 pm)
  
  The feds in general, and the Trump administration in particular. I know this will anger the Wilson supporters who will read this, but she fits, to a T, the profile that the vicious, sadistic monsters in this “administration” will seek to dominate, humiliate, and make an example of — young, inexperienced, liberal, idealistic, and a woman. She represents everything they loathe, and based on what they have done already, and continue to do, I’ll bet they would single her out — and the whole city of Seattle and everyone in it — for “special treatment.”
  
  This is not a case against voting for her, nor is it meant as an endorsement of Harrell. I’m just pointing out what Seattle will surely be in for if/when she is elected. I have learned to expect the worst where these people are involved.
  - Derek September 30, 2025 (9:16 pm)
    
    Just straight up sexist. Wilson is much better than Harrell. Harrell has been around for 16 years and created almost every major problem we have in this city. Cannot wait to elect him out and Harrell ain’t one that is going to stand up to Trump. Your argument boils down to “we need to keep a man around because of Trump” and that is blatantly wrong. He’s already dominating and making Harrell and mousy Ferguson scared. Wilson will be an instant upgrade.
    - Ivan Weiss October 1, 2025 (6:12 am)
      
      Learn to read, Derek. It’s not “my” argument. It’s the way Trumpies think, and act. They perceive women as weak whether they are weak or not, and will act accordingly. Deny it if you will. I am no Harrell fan. He has squandered his mayoralty, and is bumbling his way to electoral defeat. But your assumption that Wilson will be an “instant upgrade” is strictly fatuous and faith-based. She has no record whatever, and zero experience, in the public sector, and I am baffled at the support for her. What level of public administration could people reasonably expect? More of the “amateur hour” of the McGinn debacle is what I expect. Good luck, Seattle. You’ll need it.
- Foop September 30, 2025 (5:54 pm)
  
  Please enlighten us as to what experience Harrell has to the contrary?

Mellow Kitty September 30, 2025 (6:02 am)

Those who would sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither.

anonyme September 30, 2025 (6:48 am)

Yes, we have a problem, and yes, SPD needs to step it up. However, these actions by Trump are not only grandstanding, but an illegal seizure of power. Unfortunately, Harrell’s actions only guarantee that we will be the next target.

Flaunt-Leroy September 30, 2025 (8:57 am)

Using ones own military to bully its nations citizens into compliance, using fear and the threat of violence. Political rivals are being prosecuted on a national stage, demonizing and scapegoating of “outsiders” as the justification to dehumanize people. It all feels… familiar, can’t quite put my finger on it.

Taylor September 30, 2025 (8:59 am)

Here to remind everyone thinking this is “no big deal” or to “send them in because I’m a Tax Payer”; the current president has signed an executive order declaring “Antifa” a domestic terror organization. Antifa is not an actual organization. Antifa is a shared belief of anti-fascism, which almost all liberal voting citizens would likely define as a core value in their view of government: no fascism. This is dangerous. When domestic terrorism charges are on the line, who gets to determine if someone is part of “antifa”? When you are out there exercising your freedom of free speech, opposing fascism, and now there are armed military people trying to determine in an instant if you somehow qualify as a member of this made up organization? It kinda feels like the ones eager to send in the troops are ok with fascism, and not democracy.

Ether September 30, 2025 (12:50 pm)

An authoritarian show of force will do nothing to help the social issues of homelessness, addiction, mental illness. It will do nothing to lower home or rental prices. It won’t build a methadone treatment center. Autocrats always make these moves. Want more police? Not a bad idea if they are well trained and professional. Just be sure to note that police, fire, and public servant wages and retirement are not cheap and require increased property taxes or sales taxes to fund.

Sorry, comment time is over.