Newsom Rebukes Trump’s Threat to Deploy National Guard to San Francisco

California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply rejected President Donald Trump’s latest threat to deploy National Guard troops to San Francisco, setting off another round in the ongoing political clash between the two leaders over federal intervention in Democratic-led cities.

“We’re gonna go to San Francisco,” Trump declared during a Fox News interview on Sunday. “The difference [from Chicago] is, I think they want us in San Francisco.”

Newsom wasted no time in responding through social media. “Fact check: Nobody wants you here,” the governor wrote on X. “You will ruin one of America’s greatest cities.”

The exchange highlighted the escalating tension between Trump and Democratic state leaders as the president expands his controversial deployment of National Guard troops to various cities across the country.

In an ironic twist during the same interview, Trump inadvertently praised Newsom’s tenure as mayor. The president remarked that San Francisco was “truly one of the great cities of the world” but claimed it “went wrong” approximately 15 years ago—a timeline that coincides almost exactly with when Newsom concluded his term as the city’s mayor. Newsom served as San Francisco’s mayor from 2004 until early 2011, roughly 15 years ago.

This isn’t the first time Trump has threatened to send military personnel to San Francisco. Earlier this month, his comments briefly garnered unexpected support from a prominent local business leader. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, previously a Hillary Clinton donor, initially backed the president’s plan, telling The New York Times, “I fully support the president. I think he’s doing a great job.”

Benioff’s comments prompted immediate backlash, including the resignation of venture capitalist Ron Conway from the board of the Salesforce Foundation. Conway stated he “barely recognizes the person I have so long admired.”

Benioff subsequently walked back his support, issuing an apology and clarifying that his comments were made “out of an abundance of caution.” After consulting with local officials and residents, the tech executive announced, “I do not believe the National Guard is needed to address safety in San Francisco.” As a gesture of community support, Benioff pledged $1 million from Salesforce to help the city hire new police officers through signing bonuses.

Trump’s broader strategy of deploying the National Guard to urban areas has raised significant concerns about federal overreach and political motivations. The president has already sent troops to Chicago, which he labeled a “hellhole” of crime, and has threatened similar action in other Democratic-led cities.

Critics argue that Trump is selectively targeting cities with Democratic leadership while ignoring similar or worse crime rates in Republican-controlled jurisdictions. Many of the cities on Trump’s list actually show improving public safety trends. Newsom highlighted this discrepancy by sharing data indicating that San Francisco’s homicide rate is tracking toward its lowest level since the 1950s.

The president similarly justified sending troops to Washington, D.C., claiming the crime situation was “totally out of control” and “getting worse”—assertions contradicted by official crime statistics showing declining rates.

The dispute over National Guard deployments underscores broader political tensions regarding federal authority, local governance, and the appropriate responses to urban challenges. As Trump continues his controversial approach, resistance from state and local leaders like Newsom suggests these conflicts will likely intensify in the coming months.

For now, San Francisco remains in the crosshairs of this political standoff, with both Trump and Newsom using the iconic city as a battleground in their competing visions for urban policy and federal intervention.