The U.S. ‍9th Circuit Court of Appeals appears poised to recognize President‌ Trump’s authority to send soldiers to Portland,⁢ Ore., with members of the court‍ signaling receptiveness⁢ to ⁢an expansive new read of the president’s power to put ‍boots on the ground in American cities.

A three-judge panel from the⁤ appellate court – including‍ two members appointed by⁢ Trump during ⁤his‍ first term – heard oral arguments ⁤Thursday after Oregon challenged ‌the legality of the president’s order⁤ to deploy ‌hundreds⁤ of soldiers to Portland.​ The administration claims the ⁢city​ has become lawless; ‌Oregon officials argue Trump is manufacturing⁣ a crisis to justify ‍calling‌ in the ⁣National Guard.

While ​the court has not issued a decision,⁤ a ⁤ruling in Trump’s favor would mark a ⁤sharp rightward ⁣turn ⁣for the once-liberal circuit – and ⁤probably set up a Supreme Court showdown⁤ over​ why and how the⁤ U.S. military can be ​used domestically.

“I’m sort​ of trying​ to figure out⁢ how a district court ​of any‍ nature is supposed to get‌ in and question whether the president’s assessment of ‘executing the laws’ is right or wrong,” said Judge ‌ryan D. Nelson of⁢ Idaho Falls, Idaho, one of the two Trump appointees hearing the arguments.

“That’s an internal decision making, and whether there’s ‌a ton of protests‍ or low protests, ⁤they can still have an impact on his​ ability to execute the laws,” he ‍said.

U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut of Portland, another ⁢Trump appointee, previously called the president’s ⁣justification for federalizing Oregon troops “simply‍ untethered to ⁢the ​facts” in her temporary ⁤restraining order on Oct. 4.

The facts about the situation on the ground⁣ in Portland⁣ were not in dispute at the hearing ‌on Thursday. The city has remained mostly calm in recent months, with protesters occasionally engaging in brief skirmishes with‍ authorities stationed ⁢outside a ⁤U.S. Immigration and ⁢Customs Enforcement building.

Instead, Nelson and Judge Bridget S