Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem won praise from conservatives this week after she opened a meeting with Portland officials and federal law enforcement officers by leading a prayer — a gesture many on the right hailed as a show of moral leadership and strength amid the city’s ongoing turmoil.
Citing a 1,000 percent surge in assaults on federal law enforcement officers nationwide and the repeated attacks on Portland’s ICE facility by Antifa militants, Secretary Noem opened the meeting by praying for divine protection over those serving on the front lines.
“You give us good fellowship, Lord, but that You’d also give us wisdom and discernment to make the best decisions, not just for the people that are here enforcing the law, but also for the citizens of this country,” she prayed.
“Lord, I just ask that You continue to put a hedge of protection around these officers,” Noem continued. “Keep them safe, Lord, but that also that You would continue to bless each and every one of them and their families. And Lord, that You would protect…the freedoms that we all enjoy…that were given to us by You. We love You and we praise You in Your name. Amen.”
During her meeting Tuesday with Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, Secretary Noem requested enhanced security around the ICE facility, including a larger buffer zone for federal officers and additional support as needed. She later told Fox News host Jesse Watters that she was disappointed by the mayor’s response, saying she ultimately issued him an ultimatum after he failed to commit to stronger protective measures.
“What I told him is that if he did not follow through on some of these security measures for our officers, we were going to cover him up with more federal resources and that we were going to send four times the amount of federal officers here,” she said.
