On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced a significant change to his initial plan to deploy troops to combat crime in San Francisco this weekend. In a statement shared on social media, Trump revealed that he had a conversation with the city's mayor, Daniel Lurie, the night before, during which Lurie requested additional time to address the city's challenges.
Originally, the Federal Government was set to execute a troop 'surge' in San Francisco, California, on Saturday. However, following input from local residents who urged against this action, Trump decided to halt the military intervention. He explained, "Friends of mine who live in the area called last night to ask me not to go forward with the surge, noting that Mayor Lurie was making substantial progress." Trump further elaborated on his social media platform, stating that he had a positive discussion with Lurie, who expressed a desire to prove that he could effectively manage the situation.
Despite acknowledging the potential for a quicker resolution through federal intervention, Trump ultimately stated, "Let's see how you do," indicating his willingness to allow local leadership to take the reins. As a result, he confirmed that there would be no military surge in San Francisco this Saturday.
In a subsequent statement on Thursday, Mayor Lurie affirmed his conversation with Trump, reiterating that he conveyed the same message to both the president and local residents: San Francisco is on the rise. Lurie emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, "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." He added that having military presence in the city would likely hinder their recovery efforts.
Lurie expressed gratitude for the president's understanding of San Francisco's significance as a global technology hub, asserting, "When San Francisco is strong, our country is strong." He also noted that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reaffirmed the decision to refrain from a military surge during a conversation earlier that morning.
Lurie concluded by assuring residents that his team would continue to closely monitor the situation and that the city is prepared to handle any scenario that may arise. With this decision, both the local administration and federal government have expressed a commitment to work together to improve the safety and security of San Francisco.
