In response to the White House’s threat to conduct a military occupation of their city, members of the World Naked Bike Ride chapter in Portland have announced that they’re planning a clothing-optional cruise to protest the deployment of 200 National Guard troops to what President Donald Trump has been describing as “war ravaged Portland,” a description disputed by local officials at both the city and state levels. As the largest of the international movement’s chapters, Portland World Naked Bike Ride is ready to drop everything—including their clothes—to protest a military occupation of another U.S. city.

“Emergency #wnbr is being planned in response to the military being deployed in or city” was the call in a joint post from two Instagram accounts named worldnakedbikeridportland and nakedhearts.pdx, although the addition of “plans are being worked on” in the accompanying video suggests that a date for the event has yet to be revealed.

Although this announcement does not appear to have been made by the original Portland World Naked Bike Ride (PDXWNBR) leadership team, as clarified by the main pdxwnbr Instagram account, they appear to be supportive of the upcoming protest, stating that “as a longstanding protest, we believe strongly in the power of people, and love that Portlanders use bikes (and sometimes their bodies) to stand up for justice and community.” Although the Portland chapter of World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) is just one of many around the world, it is the largest, typically drawing around 10,000 unadorned participants to their protests.

Since early September, Trump has been talking about sending “troops to protect War ravaged Portland “; on September 28, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek received a memo from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth informing her that the state’s National Guard had been federalized under Title 10 of the United States Code.

“At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform earlier on September 27. “I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”

City and state officials have rebuked Trump’s unsubstantiated claim of rampant violence in Portland—he seems to be the only one under the impression that the city is under siege.

“This is an American city, we do not need any intervention,” Portland Mayor Keith Wilson stated at a September 27 news conference. “This is not a military target.”

“Contrary to President Trump’s social media posts, Portland is not war-ravaged,” Governor Kotek stated in a September 28 video posted on X/Twitter. “There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security, and there is no need for military troops.”

“Military service members should be dedicated to real emergencies,” Kotek added in the video that showcased Portland’s otherwise peaceful downtown. “And that’s exactly what I said to the President when I asked him to stand down from sending federal troops into our city.”

And if the announcement of a cycling protest au naturel is any indication, it would appear that ordinary Portlanders are ready to join their officials in sending a message to the White House that they don’t want to join Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. on the list of American cities that Trump has unnecessarily deployed federal troops to. Hopefully those looking to expose the naked reality of the emperor’s new clothes through PDXWNBR’s cheeky protest ride won’t have to wait too long to get the skinny on a time and place to meet.