When Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, was asked Tuesday whether federal law enforcement is overstepping in its response to Portland protesters, he first backed the response on the ground.
“I’ve not seen them cross the line yet,” Rep. Johnson said.
People participating in a naked bike ride protest in front of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Portland, Ore. on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. The ride began at the Convention Center Plaza and eventually made its way to the ICE building.
Saskia Hatvany / OPB
But then Johnson turned to the behavior of demonstrators at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland’s South Waterfront neighborhood.
“What I’ve seen is the abuse of law enforcement by radical leftist activists,” Johnson said. “Most recently, the most threatening thing I’ve seen is the naked bicyclers in Portland who were protesting ICE down there, I mean it’s getting really ugly.”
Elected officials appearing behind Johnson smirked and laughed, but Johnson didn’t break a smile.
Four people were arrested on the day of the bike ride, but it wasn’t clear they were bicyclists.
Officials in Oregon — including the Portland chief of police — say local law enforcement is capable of handling protesters at the ICE facility.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stands on the roof of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in South Portland on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025.
Eli Imadali / OPB
Speaker Johnson is the latest high-ranking Republican to criticize Portland.
Last week, Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem accused city and state leaders in Oregon of covering up criminal conduct by protesters. Noem had just returned from a visit to Portland.
