Oregon
Oregon Democrats urge Trump’s removal over Iran ‘civilization’ threat
Dates to know for Oregon May primary election
Oregon’s upcoming primary election is May 19. Here are some key dates voters should know.
Some Oregon Democrats are calling for the removal of President Donald Trump from office after he made explicit threats against Iran and its infrastructure, including warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if the government does not open the Strait of Hormuz on April 7.
Trump’s statements have sparked nationwide backlash among political leaders and fueled warnings about potential war crimes and the risk of escalating international conflict.
Many Oregon Democrats elected to national office are urging Republican representatives to intervene and rein in the president, while others are calling to invoke the 25th Amendment, which allows the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to remove a president from power if they determine the president is unable to discharge the duties of the office.
Cliff Bentz, the lone Republican representing Oregon in Washington, D.C., has not weighed in on the president’s statements. His office did not respond to a request for comment.
Here’s how Oregon’s elected representatives reacted to Trump’s claims:
Sen. Ron Wyden
“Donald Trump is deranged. He must be impeached and removed from office,” Sen. Ron Wyden said in a statement posted to social media on April 7. “Republicans who don’t stop him will have blood on their hands, and anyone who carries out an order to bomb civilian targets will be complicit in war crimes and will be held accountable.
Sen. Jeff Merkley
“Trump’s threat to bomb Iran ‘back to the stone age’ and that ‘a whole civilization will die tonight’ is 1000% out of sync with every moral code,” Sen. Jeff Merkley said in a statement posted to social media. “To the Republican leaders: call Congress back into session NOW to stop Trump’s plan to slaughter civilians.”
Rep. Andrea Salinas, 6th Congressional District
“There are no words I can put into a social media post to properly condemn how evil and deranged this is.” Rep. Andrea Salinas said in a statement posted to social media. “Trump is threatening that ‘a whole civilization will die tonight.’ That’s a war crime. Full stop.”
“ALL Members of Congress, including Republicans who control all chambers must do more than condemn this language,” Salinas said. “They need to put America first and stop this war. Trump is not fit to command our military, and he certainly shouldn’t be trusted with the nuclear codes. He is not fit to be the leader of the free world, and he must be removed.”
Salinas represents Yamhill and Polk counties and parts of Marion County.
Rep. Janelle Bynum, 5th Congressional District
“We are in a crisis of leadership,” Rep. Janelle Bynum said in a statement posted to social media. “We have a president who has no restraint and no one around him to pull him back from the brink of consequential decisions affecting the entire world.”
“Under ordinary times, there would be advisors and military leadership to temper the most extreme emotions of a president,” Bynum said. “Now, we have sycophants and flunkies who rubber-stamp this man’s every whim. My Republican colleagues and the Supreme Court have given him a blank check, cashed on the backs of the American people. Enough is enough.”
Bynum represents Linn County and wide swathes of Marion County.
Rep. Val Hoyle, 4th Congressional District
“The President is too unstable to serve,” Rep. Val Hoyle said in a statement posted to social media. “The 25th Amendment needs to be invoked to stop the President from doing further damage to the safety and security of the US and the world. We should be called back to DC now to vote on the War Power’s Resolution to stop the war.”
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, 1st Congressional District
“The President’s recent statements are terrifying and extremely dangerous,” Rep. Suzanne Bonamici said in a statement posted to social media. “It is unhinged for the President of the United States to threaten to commit war crimes and kill ‘a whole civilization’ if his demands are not met. The Speaker and Congressional Republicans must take action to rein him in, then get him out.
Rep. Maxine Dexter, 3rd Congressional District
“Every person in Trump’s chain of command has a duty to refuse illegal orders, including carrying out his unhinged threat to obliterate Iran,” Rep. Maxine Dexter said in a statement posted to social media.
Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval is a lifelong Oregonian who covers trending news, entertainment, food and outdoors. She can be reached at GSandoval@statesmanjournal.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.
Two days after the 2026 NFL Draft ended, Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Matthew Bedford accepted an invite to the New Orleans Saints’ rookie minicamp, and punter James Ferguson-Reynolds to the New York Giants’ rookie minicamp, according to The Oregonian’s James Crepea.
Bedford started his college career with the Indiana Hooisers and Ferguson-Reynolds with the Boise State Broncos before transferring to Eugene, Oregon.
Offensive Lineman Matthew Bedford
Across his two seasons with Oregon, Matthew Bedford only played eight of the 29 games played after suffering a left knee injury in the fall of 2024.
He was set to be the starting right guard and was only on the offensive line for 84 total snaps during his time with the Ducks.
Punter James Ferguson-Reynolds
James Ferguson-Reynolds, a native of Geelong, Australia, came to the United States in 2020. He was named an Associated Press Third Team All-American in 2023.
In his senior season with Oregon, Ferguson-Reynolds punted 35 times for 1,470 yards, averaging 42.0 yards per attempt. The leftie had 17 punts inside the 20-yard line and six punts of 50-plus yards, with a long boot of 58 yards.
Below are the four other Ducks that will be looking for a shot at a spot at an NFL training camp and an opening-day roster spot.
Running Back Noah Whittington
Noah Whittington is headed to the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent, per CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
The Ducks’ leading rusher from the 2025 season was an All-Big Ten Conference Honorable Mention selection with 829 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 129 carries. He finished his college career with 2,950 career rushing yards after starting his career with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers from 2020 to 2021, then moving to the Emerald City from 2022 to 2025.
Offensive Tackle Isaiah World
Isaiah World signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Zenitz.
The 6-8, 315-pound giant earned All-Big Ten Conference Honorable Mention honors before suffering a torn ACL in his left knee during the College Football Playoff semifinal loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in the Peach Bowl. The former Nevada Wolfpack is expected to make a full recovery after not participating in the NFL Combine or Oregon’s Pro Day.
Long Snapper Luke Basso
Luke Basso will sign as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos, reported by Crepea.
The Duck will have the chance to reunite with quarterback Bo Nix, with whom he played alongside during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns at Autzen Stadium. The primary specialist appeared in 39 games, while earning All-Big Ten Conference First Team honors in his redshirt junior season and All-Big Ten Conference Second Team honors during his redshirt senior season.
Kicker Atticus Sappington
Atticus Sappington will be joining the Minnesota Vikings as a rookie minicamp invite, per Crepea.
The former Oregon State Beaver turned Duck went 51-for-61 on his field goal college attempts, turning a 83.6 percentage. On 40 through 49-yard attempts, Sappington knocked through 17-for-21 kicks through the uprights.
With the long distance of 50 yards or more, the Portland, Oregon, native finished 2-for-5 throughout his college career. His longest included a 51-yarder against the Washington Huskies on Nov. 29, 2025, in the rivalry road 26-14 win to cap his Pacific Northwest tenure.
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The Oregon Ducks saw seven prospects picked in the 2026 NFL Draft, headlined by tight end Kenyon Sadiq and safety Dillon Thieneman in the first round.
It’s never too early to start talking about the 2027 NFL Draft, and Oregon has a few underclassmen who could declare early for the draft, joining an already deep draft class out of Eugene led by quarterback Dante Moore.
Jamari Johnson
After former Oregon star Kenyon Sadiq was drafted as the first tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 16 overall pick, many believe the Ducks have college football’s next best tight end already on the roster.
With Ducks tight end Jamari Johnson already receiving recognition as the top tight end prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft, he’s likely only spending one more year in Eugene. Johnson flashed as a receiver during his first season at Oregon, and the expectations have only risen for 2026.
Alongside Sadiq, Johnson totaled 32 catches for 510 yards and three touchdowns last season. After a season as the top tight end in Oregon’s offense, Johnson is expected to become the third Ducks tight end drafted in three consecutive years following Sadiq and Terrance Ferguson.
Koi Perich
Former Minnesota safety transferred to Oregon in the offseason and immediately received comparisons to former Ducks safety Dillon Thieneman, who started his career with Purdue before transferring and becoming a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
While Oregon fans certainly hope that Perich follows in Thieneman’s footsteps, the Chicago Bears’ first-round pick set the bar high.
Perich enters the Ducks defense expected to be an immediate contributor after earning freshman All-American honors (like Thieneman did at Purdue). The newest Oregon safety totaled 128 combined tackles, six interceptions, five pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in two seasons with Minnesota.
If he can produce at a similar level in Oregon’s defense, the NFL could come calling early for Perich.
Jeremiah McClellan
Maybe a bit of a surprise pick here, but McClellan will be eligible to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft after his redshirt sophomore season. The headlining receiver in 2027 will no doubt be Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith, but McClellan could play his way into the NFL Draft.
McClellan is not projected as an early-round draft pick, especially entering a year in Oregon’s offense that features fellow receivers Evan Stewart and Dakorien Moore.
Still, McClellan stepped up when the Ducks were thin at receiver in 2025, and another strong season from the Oregon pass catcher could boost his NFL Draft stock high enough. He finished the year with 38 catches for 557 yards and three touchdowns, not to mention his uncanny ability for acrobatic, highlight receptions.
McClellan did miss Oregon’s spring game on Saturday with an undisclosed injury, though, so he’s far from a lock to declare early for the NFL Draft.
Especially considering the Ducks’ ability to retain players under Lanning, McClellan could very well play multiple years at Oregon after 2026. However, another break out season, and it could be his last in Eugene.
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Former USC Trojans freshman shooting guard Jerry Easter II will be staying within the Big Ten Conference and join the Oregon Ducks through the transfer portal.
The 6-5, 190-pound sophomore averaged 4.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game during his first college basketball season. Easter II finished with a shooting split of 43.6 from the field, 23.5 from beyond the arc, and 74.4 from the free throw line in 17.4 minutes across 29 games played.
Out of the 2025 recruiting class, the former top-60 and four-star recruit out of Link Academy in Branson, Missouri, visited coach Dana Altman in Eugene, Oregon, on March 8, 2024. He’s a high-volume scoring option that has a multifaceted style of offensive play, especially in the open floor. With time to work on his shooting mechanics this offseason, Easter II hopes to have his percentages across the board rise.
He’s much more of a two-guard, as he has an issue with caring for the ball consistently. With Kentucky Wildcats freshman combo guard Jasper Johnson having more of a shot at the starting position, Easter II looks to be a boost off the bench for Altman in 2026-27.
That still means the Ducks require a primary ball-handler to fill the point guard spot. If it can’t be found through the transfer portal, Johnson would look to take over the duties at the one. That’s not where the 6-5, 180-pound talent is best on the floor.
Alabama Crimson Tide’s Taylor Bol Bowen
Alabama Crimson Tide junior power forward/center Taylor Bol Bowen committed to the Pacific Northwest program after his official visit on April 22, bringing desperately needed size at the five spot in Oregon’s frontcourt.
The 6-10, 200-pounder averaged 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this past season. He has a high defensive upside that will replace center Nate Bittle’s role right away.
What separates Bol Bowen’s game from other bigs that the Ducks’ coaching staff was recruiting through the transfer portal is his ability to stretch out the floor. He shot 37.2 percent from deep on nearly 200 attempts, dating back to his first two seasons with the Florida State Seminoles.
Altman’s going to have quite the lengthy unit that will be able to cover the court and switch everything on the defensive side of the ball.
Oregon’s 2026 Transfer Portal Class
Along with Easter II, Johnson, and Bol Bowen, there are three other new faces in Altman’s 2026 transfer portal haul.
- San Diego Aztecs sophomore power forward Pharaoh Compton
- Boise State Broncos junior wing/power forward Andrew Meadow
- San Francisco Dons sophomore wing Tyrone Riley IV
On3 has that group ranked No. 56 in the country, No. 13 in the Big Ten. 247Sports has Oregon’s transfer portal class ranked No. 39 overall and No. 8 in the Big Ten.
The Ducks have filled out 12 of the 15 available roster spots for both scholarship players and walk-ons.
St. John’s Red Storm’s Joson Sanon
Oregon reached out to Saint John’s sophomore transfer Joson Sanon, per League Ready. Whether or not those conversations will continue after the commitment of Easter II is unclear.
The 6-6, 200-pound shooting guard scored 7.9 points per game and shot 33.6 percent on three-pointers in 20.9 minutes across 37 games played in 2025-26. He started his collegiate career with the Arizona State Sun Devils.
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