President Trump announced on Thursday that he has canceled a planned “surge” of federal troops into San Francisco following conversations with local residents and Mayor Daniel Lurie. Trump stated that friends living in the area urged him to abandon the operation, citing Lurie’s efforts to address crime. “I spoke to Mayor Lurie last night, and he asked, very nicely, that I give him a chance to see if he can turn it around,” Trump said.
The president claimed he advised Lurie that removing criminals would be faster under federal intervention but agreed to let the mayor continue his approach. “The people of San Francisco have come together on fighting crime,” Trump added. He highlighted support from tech leaders like Jensen Huang and Marc Benioff, who reportedly expressed confidence in the city’s recovery.
Lurie confirmed a late-night call with Trump, stating, “San Francisco is on the rise.” The mayor emphasized collaboration with federal agencies to combat drug-related issues but warned that military presence would hinder progress. “We are the global hub for technology, and when San Francisco is strong, our country is strong,” he said.
Trump had previously considered deploying troops to San Francisco since summer, with Benioff initially endorsing the idea. However, Benioff later retracted his support, apologizing for causing unnecessary concern. Trump reiterated his belief that cities like San Francisco “can be fixed” and urged continued focus on such areas.
The mayor has avoided direct confrontation with Trump, prioritizing local issues after replacing the previous administration.
