President Donald Trump says he has called Mayor Lurie to back off plans to “surge” San Francisco with federal agents, who arrived in the Bay Area Thursday. He also referenced big tech CEOs defending the city.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie says that President Donald Trump called him and told him he was “calling off any plans for a federal deployment” in the city.
Lurie posted on social media Thursday morning, despite federal agents having already arrived in the Bay Area.
Trump also posted on Truth Social that the federal agents were preparing to “surge” the city on Saturday, but are now backing off.
He said he is respecting Lurie’s request to call off the deployment but said, “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 also referenced Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and how they’ve “called saying that the future of San Francisco is great.”
Federal agents did arrive at Coast Guard Island in Alameda Thursday morning and were met by protesters.
Lurie says he also spoke with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem Thursday morning and she reaffirmed what President Trump said.
This comes one week after President Trump first threatened to send the National Guard to the city, and a few days after U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem discussed plans to deploy federal troops to the city.
It is unclear what the federal agents will be doing in the Bay Area.
Here is Lurie’s full statement:
“Yesterday, I spoke to San Franciscans about a potential federal deployment in our city. I said then what I have said since taking office, that keeping San Franciscans safe is my top priority.
“Late last night, I received a phone call from the President of the United States. I told him the same thing I told our residents: San Francisco is on the rise. Visitors are coming back, buildings are getting leased and purchased, and workers are coming back to the office. We have work to do, and we would welcome continued partnerships with the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Attorney to get drugs and drug dealers off our streets, but having the military and militarized immigration enforcement in our city will hinder our recovery. We appreciate that the president understands that we are the global hub for technology, and when San Francisco is strong, our country is strong.
“In that conversation, the president told me clearly that he was calling off any plans for a federal deployment in San Francisco. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem reaffirmed that direction in our conversation this morning.
“My team will continue to monitor the situation closely, and our city remains prepared for any scenario.
“I am profoundly grateful to all the San Franciscans who came together over the last several days. Our city leaders have been united behind the goal of public safety. And our values have been on full display-this is the best of our city.”