Trump Faces Naked Bike Rally Protest in Portland Over Federal Troop Deployment
In a striking and unusual form of protest, residents of Portland, Oregon, took part in a naked bike rally to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy federal troops in the city. The demonstration drew attention not only for its scale but also for the bold and unconventional way participants chose to make their voices heard.
Since 2004, Portland has hosted the annual World Naked Bike Ride, a globally recognized event in which thousands of cyclists ride through the city streets largely unclothed, celebrating body positivity, environmental awareness, and cycling advocacy. During the event, music blares from speakers as crowds of participants weave through the city on bicycles. In some years, the rally has drawn as many as 10,000 participants, making it one of Portland’s most colorful and talked-about annual events.
This year, the naked bike rally took on an added political significance. Organized ahead of its usual schedule, the event was aimed specifically at protesting the Trump administration’s deployment of the National Guard in Portland and its broader crackdown on immigrants. The city has seen days of heightened tension, with demonstrators and security personnel clashing outside immigration centers. Across the United States, several cities have seen protests opposing the federal government’s deployment of troops and the handling of immigration enforcement, but the naked bike ride in Portland stood out for its combination of spectacle and activism.
Jane King, a local protester, described the rally as a unique and expressive form of protest that Portland has embraced for years. Among the participants was 51-year-old Woolly Mojo, who, aside from wearing a wig and hat, rode completely naked through the streets while sipping hot tea. Undeterred by the steady rain, she expressed the sentiment of many demonstrators, saying, “We absolutely don’t want soldiers coming into our city.”
Participants cycled through Portland’s streets toward the city’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building, making their opposition clear to both local authorities and the federal government. The demonstration coincided with the city’s anticipation of an important legal decision. Portland residents and protesters alike are awaiting a ruling from the city’s appellate court, which will determine whether the federal government, under Trump’s administration, has the legal authority to maintain the deployment of federal troops. Earlier, on October 5, a federal judge issued a temporary halt to the National Guard deployment, further intensifying public and media attention on the ongoing situation.
The 2025 rally showcased Portland’s tradition of blending activism with creativity, as participants used the annual naked bike ride not just to celebrate body freedom and cycling culture, but also to send a strong political message. This fusion of civic engagement, protest, and visual spectacle reflects the city’s long-standing culture of activism and highlights the creative ways citizens can express dissent in modern America.
