Trump Reverses SF Deployment After Tech and Mayor Pressure

Trump Calls Off San Francisco Federal Deployment After Pressure from Tech Leaders and Mayor

President Donald Trump abruptly reversed his decision to deploy federal troops to San Francisco on Saturday, citing conversations with local officials and influential tech executives, including Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang. The move, announced via social media, marked a de-escalation in tensions between the administration and the liberal California city, which had become a flashpoint in the president's broader strategy to address urban crime, according to a Yahoo News report.

The federal government had prepared to "surge" San Francisco with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and other law enforcement personnel, a plan that had drawn fierce criticism from Governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers. Trump initially framed the action as a response to rising crime and homelessness, but local leaders and tech executives pushed back, emphasizing progress in reducing crime rates and stabilizing the city's economy. In a statement, Mayor Daniel Lurie confirmed he spoke with Trump on Wednesday night, urging the president to "give him a chance" to continue San Francisco's recovery efforts, according to ABC News reporting.

"San Francisco is on the rise," Lurie said, highlighting the city's declining homicide rates and property crime statistics, which he attributed to the artificial intelligence boom and business-friendly policies. He reiterated support for collaboration with federal agencies like the FBI and DEA but warned against militarized interventions, which he argued would hinder recovery, Mediaite reported.

The reversal followed calls from Benioff and Huang, both of whom had initially expressed support for federal action. Benioff had previously advocated for National Guard deployment but later apologized for his remarks after facing backlash from residents and fellow tech leaders. Huang, a key figure in the AI industry, has maintained close ties with Trump's administration, including participating in a White House dinner for tech executives in September, Business Insider reported.

Trump's decision reflects a broader pattern of using federal law enforcement to address crime in Democratic-leaning cities, a strategy that has faced legal and political pushback in Chicago, Portland, and Los Angeles. Critics argue that such deployments disproportionately target marginalized communities and exacerbate tensions without addressing systemic issues. "The president's listening to billionaires as opposed to the people who live here and are our elected leaders," said Gabriel Medina of La Raza Community Resource Center, highlighting concerns about oligarchic influence, as Yahoo News reported.

The administration's pivot in San Francisco also underscores the growing political calculus of aligning with Silicon Valley elites, whose financial and strategic support is critical for Trump's 2026 midterm ambitions. California is home to four of the world's ten richest individuals, including Zuckerberg, Huang, and Alphabet co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, collectively worth over $840 billion, according to Yahoo News.

While Trump left the door open for future federal interventions—urging San Franciscans to "stay tuned"—Lurie and local officials remain focused on a collaborative approach. "We would welcome continued partnerships with the FBI, DEA, and ATF to get drugs and drug dealers off our streets," Lurie said, emphasizing that militarized enforcement "will hinder our recovery," as ABC News reported.

As San Francisco navigates its post-pandemic revival, the episode highlights the complex interplay between federal power, corporate influence, and local governance in shaping urban policy.