President Donald Trump said he would strongly recommend, at the request of government leaders, sending the National Guard to San Francisco. San Francisco leaders and Governor Newsom say that it is unnecessary.He said the city was one of America’s best 15 years ago, but now it is a “mess,” claiming Democrats destroyed it. Trump also said he has strong support in San Francisco.The Trump administration recently deployed the National Guard to Portland and Chicago leading to protests and lawsuits. Elon Musk and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff voiced support for sending federal troops to San Francisco.Benioff told the New York Times that he agreed with the president’s idea. “We don’t have enough cops, so if they (the National Guard) can be cops, I’m all for it,” he said. He later seemed to walk back his statement, saying safety is “first and foremost, the responsibility of our city and state leaders.”Musk wrote on X on Sunday, “It’s the only solution at this point,” and called the downtown area a “drug zombie apocalypse.”San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, and Sheriff Paul Miyamoto held a news conference on Wednesday to discuss declining crime in San Francisco and an uptick in police recruitment.The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Jenkins said, “We have no problem asking for federal help, but local leaders have this issue under control right now.”“Thanks to the leadership of Governor Newsom and the partnership of the California Highway Patrol, crime in our city is down nearly 30%, car break-ins are at 22-year lows, homicides are at 70-year lows, and San Franciscans are feeling positive about the direction of our city once again. And we are going to continue working every single day to build on this progress and keep our city safe 365 days a year,” said Lurie.Governor Gavin Newsom also stated that since 2019, violent crimes and robberies have seen a large decrease. Statewide, he said crime is down.According to the Major Cities Chiefs Association, violent crime in major California cities is down 12.5% in 2025 compared to 2024. The largest overall declines in violent crime were reported by the police departments in Oakland (30%) and San Francisco (22%). California’s homicide rate in 2024 was the second lowest since at least 1966.“We take the safety and security of our neighborhoods extremely seriously—and our hard work is paying off. Through meaningful and significant funding investments and partnerships with local law enforcement and community groups, our crime is down. Although good enough never is, we will keep working together to help keep Californians safe,” said Newsom.

SAN FRANCISCO —

President Donald Trump said he would strongly recommend, at the request of government leaders, sending the National Guard to San Francisco. San Francisco leaders and Governor Newsom say that it is unnecessary.

He said the city was one of America’s best 15 years ago, but now it is a “mess,” claiming Democrats destroyed it. Trump also said he has strong support in San Francisco.

The Trump administration recently deployed the National Guard to Portland and Chicago leading to protests and lawsuits.

Elon Musk and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff voiced support for sending federal troops to San Francisco.

Benioff told the New York Times that he agreed with the president’s idea. “We don’t have enough cops, so if they (the National Guard) can be cops, I’m all for it,” he said. He later seemed to walk back his statement, saying safety is “first and foremost, the responsibility of our city and state leaders.”

Musk wrote on X on Sunday, “It’s the only solution at this point,” and called the downtown area a “drug zombie apocalypse.”

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, and Sheriff Paul Miyamoto held a news conference on Wednesday to discuss declining crime in San Francisco and an uptick in police recruitment.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Jenkins said, “We have no problem asking for federal help, but local leaders have this issue under control right now.”

“Thanks to the leadership of Governor Newsom and the partnership of the California Highway Patrol, crime in our city is down nearly 30%, car break-ins are at 22-year lows, homicides are at 70-year lows, and San Franciscans are feeling positive about the direction of our city once again. And we are going to continue working every single day to build on this progress and keep our city safe 365 days a year,” said Lurie.

Governor Gavin Newsom also stated that since 2019, violent crimes and robberies have seen a large decrease. Statewide, he said crime is down.

According to the Major Cities Chiefs Association, violent crime in major California cities is down 12.5% in 2025 compared to 2024. The largest overall declines in violent crime were reported by the police departments in Oakland (30%) and San Francisco (22%). California’s homicide rate in 2024 was the second lowest since at least 1966.

“We take the safety and security of our neighborhoods extremely seriously—and our hard work is paying off. Through meaningful and significant funding investments and partnerships with local law enforcement and community groups, our crime is down. Although good enough never is, we will keep working together to help keep Californians safe,” said Newsom.