President Donald Trump announced on Thursday he has abandoned plans to deploy a “surge” of federal troops into San Francisco following discussions with local residents and Mayor Daniel Lurie.
“The Federal Government was preparing to ‘surge’ San Francisco, California, on Saturday, but friends of mine who live in the area called last night to ask me not to proceed,” Trump stated. “I spoke to Mayor Lurie last night, and he requested, very politely, that I allow him time to address the situation.”
Trump claimed he advised Lurie that his approach was flawed, arguing that federal intervention could more swiftly remove criminals “the Law does not permit him to remove.” He added, “The people of San Francisco have united in combating crime, especially since we began focusing on this critical issue.”
Lurie confirmed in a statement that he conversed with Trump on Wednesday night, emphasizing, “I told him the same thing I shared with our residents: San Francisco is on the rise.” The mayor highlighted collaboration with federal agencies to tackle drug-related issues but warned against militarized enforcement, stating it would impede recovery efforts.
Trump had previously considered sending troops to San Francisco since summer, though recent endorsements from tech figures like Marc Benioff added traction to the proposal. Benioff initially supported the idea but later retracted his statement, citing an “abundance of caution” and apologizing for causing concern.
Trump described San Francisco as a city in decline, contrasting it with its past as a “great city” 10 to 15 years ago. He reiterated support for local officials, urging continued focus on the area’s revitalization.