President Donald Trump announced he will not send federal troops to San Francisco following discussions with local leaders and prominent tech figures. The decision came after conversations with Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang, and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.
Trump shared on social media that friends in the area, including Benioff and Huang, asked him to reconsider the planned deployment. As a result, he decided to cancel the federal surge that was set to begin Saturday.
This move marks a sharp change from Trump’s earlier stance. Just last week, he had suggested sending federal forces to San Francisco, following similar deployments in cities like Chicago, Portland, and Los Angeles. Those actions had sparked protests and resistance from local communities and politicians.
Hundreds of federal agents from agencies like Customs and Border Protection were preparing to arrive at the Coast Guard Base Alameda, near the city. But the plan faced strong criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders. Even Benioff, who initially supported the idea of sending National Guard troops to San Francisco, withdrew his backing after pushback from the city’s political and tech communities.
Mayor Lurie confirmed he spoke with Trump late Wednesday night, during which the president said he was calling off the deployment. Lurie expressed that San Francisco is improving and welcomes cooperation with federal law enforcement on drug-related crimes but opposes a military or heavily armed presence in the city.
San Francisco has struggled with issues like homelessness and crime since the pandemic, but recent months have seen positive changes. Crime rates, including homicides and property crimes such as car break-ins, have dropped sharply. The city has also become a major player in artificial intelligence, with local companies like Nvidia at the forefront.
While some state leaders have taken a hard line against Trump’s plans, Lurie has chosen a more conciliatory approach, focusing on working with federal agencies where it can help the city recover.
The situation remains fluid, with the mayor’s office saying it will keep monitoring developments to ensure San Francisco is ready for any future challenges.