President Donald Trump has proposed deploying the National Guard to San Francisco, a move criticized by California Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Daniel Lurie as detrimental to the city’s reputation and safety. Newsom denounced the plan, calling it an attack on one of America’s greatest cities, while Trump defended it as part of his ‘Making America Safe Again’ agenda.
Newsom, a frequent critic of Trump, has pointed to the Trump administration’s history of militarizing cities, including deployments to Washington, D.C., Chicago, Memphis, and Portland, arguing that these actions undermine local governance and community trust. He emphasized California’s approach, which has seen the state partner with local law enforcement agencies to reduce crime and enhance public safety, while rejecting federal intervention.
Mayor Daniel Lurie, who was elected in 2022 with a mandate to restore order, has underscored San Francisco’s success in maintaining safety during large public events. For example, the recent Salesforce ‘Dreamforce 2025’ conference attracted over 45,000 visitors without major incidents, a testament to the city’s effective coordination with the California Highway Patrol. Lurie has also highlighted the importance of collaboration between state and federal agencies in ensuring public safety.