Democrat strategist and Fox News co-host Jessica Tarlov sparked debate Friday after attempting to explain what she described as the “intellectual” value of anti-ICE protesters dressing in inflatable animal costumes during demonstrations in Portland, Oregon.

The comments came during Fox News’ The Five, where Tarlov addressed footage from ongoing protests outside Portland’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility.

The demonstrations, part of the nationwide “No Kings” rallies, featured activists dressed as cartoon and inflatable animals, including a large green frog.

Clips of the costumed protests have circulated widely across social media, drawing both ridicule and support.

“Then why are they always dressed like a furry, screaming about boys and girls?” co-host Joey Jones asked during the exchange.

“They are ridiculous.”

Tarlov responded that the protests were meant to be peaceful and symbolic, arguing that dressing up was not meant to diminish their message.

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“It is an intellectual argument to say, [DHS Secretary] Kristi [Noem], ‘You’re making it up about what’s going on here at that ICE facility, because I’m dressed as Pikachu and posing no threat.’ They arrested a guy who was singing,” Tarlov said, defending one protester’s recent arrest.

Jones countered that such displays undercut the seriousness of their cause, saying that if protesters wanted to make an “intellectual argument,” then “dressing up like a unicorn and running out there and screaming every time” was not an effective approach.

Co-host Jesse Watters added humor to the segment, remarking, “His voice was terrible, Jessica,” referring to the protester Tarlov mentioned.

The demonstrations outside Portland’s ICE facility have continued for months, often devolving into clashes between Antifa-linked activists and law enforcement.

President Donald Trump ordered National Guard troops to assist local authorities earlier this year, citing ongoing assaults against federal agents and property.

Federal and local officials have reported that dozens of individuals connected to the protests have been arrested and charged with rioting, vandalism, and obstruction of justice.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that several incidents included attacks on ICE vehicles and attempts to breach the facility’s perimeter.

While Democratic leaders in Portland and across Oregon have downplayed the unrest, conservative reporters covering the events have described escalating violence from organized far-left activists.

Independent journalist Nick Sortor and Post Millennial reporter Katie Daviscourt, both of whom have extensively covered protests across the Pacific Northwest, were recently targeted while reporting from the scene.

On October 2, Sortor was arrested for “disorderly conduct” after recording video of Antifa-affiliated protesters outside the ICE facility.

In footage shared on X, an Antifa member dressed in black confronted Sortor as he attempted to cross the street.

🚨𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Portland, OR (October 4th) — Antifa thugs swarm journalist 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗿 (@nicksortor), shoving him into a deep sidewalk pit like rabid jackals.

𝗦𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗿 is physically fine, but his camera was smashed in the attack.

Even worse,… pic.twitter.com/d5Y5sxL9dp

— Rhein Amacher (@RheinDAmacher) October 3, 2025

The individual appeared to throw a punch, leading to a brief scuffle before Sortor was tackled and detained by police.

Following his release, Sortor spoke with Fox News, condemning local authorities for what he described as selective enforcement.

He argued that police were failing to address violence from left-wing agitators while cracking down on journalists documenting the unrest.

Days before Sortor’s arrest, Daviscourt was assaulted by an Antifa member while filming in the same area, leaving her with a visible black eye.

Despite identifying her alleged attacker to the Portland Police Bureau, no arrests were made.

TPM’s @KatieDaviscourt‘s remarks during a roundtable on Antifa with Trump:

“They believe that ICE agents are the Nazi gestapo who need to be killed … and I think that if this situation is not taken as seriously as it is, it’s just a matter of time before someone gets killed.” pic.twitter.com/HA6wUFtVoF

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) October 8, 2025

Daviscourt has continued to report on Antifa’s activities, posting videos showing masked individuals confronting journalists and disrupting demonstrations.

BREAKING: I went behind the scenes at the ICE facility in Portland with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service (@FPSDHS).

As anti-ICE protesters lay siege to the ICE facility for more than 90 consecutive days, here’s an inside look at the officers who… pic.twitter.com/Uy5pe4jJ5D

— Katie Daviscourt 📸 (@KatieDaviscourt) September 11, 2025

The protests have reignited debates over political accountability in Democrat-led cities, particularly concerning federal immigration enforcement and public safety.

President Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard units earlier this year came after repeated attacks on ICE offices and personnel nationwide.

Tarlov’s comments Friday reflected a broader divide over how the demonstrations are perceived.

While she described the protests as peaceful expressions of dissent, her co-hosts questioned whether the movement’s theatrics and growing association with violence have undermined its message.