National Guard Deployment to San Francisco Put on Hold After Trump Talks With Tech Leaders

Former President Donald Trump has walked back plans to deploy the National Guard to San Francisco following private phone calls with top tech leaders and the city’s mayor.

The decision, announced Thursday via Trump’s Truth Social account, came after conversations with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, and Democratic Mayor Daniel Lurie.

Trump initially wrote that the federal government was preparing to “surge” San Francisco amid concerns over crime and homelessness but decided to hold off after what he described as “great discussions” with city and business leaders.

“Great people like Jensen Huang, Marc Benioff, and others have called saying that the future of San Francisco is great,” Trump posted. “Mayor Daniel Lurie is making substantial progress, and I believe in his leadership.”

Lurie confirmed Trump’s reversal in a statement Friday, calling it a “major political win” for the city and its recovery efforts. “The president told me clearly that he was calling off any plans for a federal deployment in San Francisco,” Lurie said. “Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem reaffirmed that direction in our conversation this morning.”

The decision marks a significant political moment for Lurie, a moderate Democrat who has maintained a cooperative stance toward Trump rather than direct confrontation – a sharp contrast to other California leaders like Governor Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

In recent speeches, Lurie has highlighted San Francisco’s progress in combating crime and revitalizing its economy. “We have work to do, and we welcome partnerships with the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Attorney to get drugs and drug dealers off our streets,” he said. “But having the military and militarized immigration enforcement in our city will hinder our recovery.”

The proposal for a potential National Guard deployment gained traction earlier this month when Benioff told The New York Times that he supported Trump’s call for federal troops in San Francisco. His remarks were publicly backed by Elon Musk and venture capitalist David Sacks, both of whom maintain close ties to Trump and his administration.

However, after mounting criticism from local officials and residents, Benioff reversed his stance. “Having listened closely to my fellow San Franciscans and our local officials, and after the largest and safest Dreamforce in our history, I do not believe the National Guard is needed to address safety in San Francisco,” he wrote on X.

The shift in tone comes as data suggest that San Francisco is experiencing measurable improvement in public safety and economic recovery. Citywide crime rates are down 30% compared to 2024, and homicide levels have fallen to their lowest point in 70 years. Car break-ins have also reached their lowest levels in more than two decades.

Meanwhile, San Francisco’s economic indicators are rebounding strongly. Tourism and event bookings are climbing, the residential real estate market is tightening, and office demand is rising after years of post-pandemic stagnation. Analysts credit much of the renewed business confidence to the artificial intelligence boom, which has revitalized the tech industry and driven record levels of venture funding.

According to new data from CBRE, 2025 is on track to surpass the 2021 record for venture capital investment – largely due to AI-driven growth in San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

With Trump’s decision to pull back on federal intervention, local officials and business leaders are hopeful that the city’s momentum will continue. “We’re turning a corner,” Lurie said. “Partnership and progress, not politics, will define San Francisco’s future.”