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.

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.

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.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/10/15/mike-johnson-portland-naked-bike-ride/