During her visit to Portland, Oregon, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem found herself in the midst of a small protest outside the ICE facility, which featured a notable figure dressed in a chicken suit. The protest came after President Trump’s remarks calling Portland a “war zone,” and Noem’s visit quickly turned into a viral moment, with the online community mocking the “army of Antifa” and the presence of the costumed protester.
Protest Outside ICE Facility
Kristi Noem’s visit to Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday included witnessing a protest outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. A small group of demonstrators had gathered, but one individual stood out, wearing a chicken suit. The protest has drawn significant attention after President Donald Trump had recently labeled Portland as a “war zone,” heightening the stakes for Noem’s visit. The footage of the event was widely shared by MAGA influencer Benny Johnson.
Benny Johnson’s Viral Video
Influencer Benny Johnson captured a video of Kristi Noem observing the protest from atop the ICE facility. His post on X (formerly Twitter) quickly went viral, where he described the situation as Noem “staring down an army of Antifa and a guy in a chicken suit.” Johnson’s video also featured an exchange between him and Noem, with Noem remarking on the chicken-suited protester, saying, “Man in the chicken outfit? I just saw him now. Goodness sakes. You can do better.” She further dismissed the protesters as “uneducated and ill-informed.”
“Army of Antifa”?
The description of the protest as an “army of Antifa” quickly became a target of ridicule online. Many social media users pointed out the irony in Johnson’s hyperbolic phrasing, noting that the protest was composed of only a small group of individuals, including the man in the chicken suit. Comments flooded the thread, such as, “There’s like 10 people in that video,” and “Send in the full active-duty marines, right? I see about 10 people down there.” The exaggeration turned into a meme goldmine, with users mocking the “threat” posed by a small group of protesters.
Memes Take Over the Narrative
The chicken-suited protester became the focal point of the entire conversation. Internet users flooded social media with memes and jokes about the man in the costume, downplaying the supposed “threat” posed by the protest. One user wrote, “Notice the city in flames… a war zone. Threatened by a guy in a chicken suit.” The incident became a symbol of how the event was overhyped by certain media outlets and influencers. The “army of Antifa” comment also continued to be ridiculed, with many pointing out the sheer lack of numbers in the protest.
Continued Posts by Benny Johnson
Despite the ridicule, Benny Johnson continued to share updates about Kristi Noem’s visit on his social media. In a follow-up post, he thanked Jesse Watters and Fox News for covering the visit, calling Noem’s stance “straight savage” for standing her ground against “Antifa and a dude in a chicken suit.” The posts garnered mixed reactions online, with some supporting Johnson’s framing of the situation, while others mocked the portrayal of the protest as a serious threat.
The Portland Context
Amid the protest, tensions have been rising in Portland, where demonstrations against ICE have been ongoing. These protests escalated following the arrest of conservative influencer Nick Sortor for alleged disorderly conduct. Despite the minimal disruption caused by the protests, the political rhetoric surrounding the events has been heightened, with various parties using the moment for their own messaging. The Portland Police reported that over the weekend, two protestors were arrested for blocking traffic and engaging in aggressive behavior, though the protests themselves have largely been peaceful.
National Guard and Federal Officers
In a separate development, President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy the National Guard to Portland in response to the protests, which he and others have labeled as involving “domestic terrorists.” Kristi Noem, who recently spoke with the Mayor of Portland about security, suggested that additional federal officers could be deployed if the city didn’t take further action to secure the area. She warned that failure to implement safety measures could result in an increase in federal presence.