Trump Makes Surprising Confession
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has decided to temporarily hold off a planned federal law enforcement surge in San Francisco after personal outreach from top Silicon Valley billionaires and the city’s newly elected mayor.
Trump, who has long criticized San Francisco as a “symbol of liberal decay,” said he was ready to send in National Guard troops to restore order — but changed course after conversations with business leaders urging him to give the Democrat-run city one more chance.
Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday that he’d spoken with “some truly outstanding and very successful people.” According to the President, they assured him that San Francisco was making real efforts to get crime under control. “So we’re pausing that federal surge for now,” Trump said. “But if things don’t improve, we’ll move in and handle it fast.”
Tech Leaders Step In to Calm Trump’s Crackdown
Trump specifically mentioned Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, two of Silicon Valley’s most influential figures, as among those who personally reached out.
“I got four or five calls from the biggest people in the world — a lot of the high-tech guys,” Trump said. “They said, ‘Let us fix it.’ And I said, ‘Okay, but if it doesn’t work out, we’ll do it for you fast.’”
The President confirmed that a large federal operation had been planned for this weekend but said it’s now on pause — for the moment.
Mayor Daniel Lurie Gets Rare Praise from Trump
Trump also gave unexpected credit to San Francisco’s new mayor, Daniel Lurie, a centrist Democrat and heir to the Levi Strauss fortune. Lurie has made restoring public safety, tackling homelessness, and cleaning up the fentanyl crisis his top priorities.
“I told the mayor, I love what you’re doing, I respect it, and I respect the people that are doing it,” Trump said after a private phone call with Lurie on Wednesday.
Lurie, who defeated former Mayor London Breed last November, has avoided public clashes with Trump — a strategy that appears to be paying off.
At a Thursday press conference, Lurie said he told Trump the city is “on the rise again,” pointing to a 26% drop in overall crime and a 22-year low in car break-ins.
San Francisco’s Struggle with Crime and Decline
Once hailed as America’s innovation capital, San Francisco has become a national example of what Trump calls “Democrat destruction” — plagued by fentanyl overdoses, rampant theft, and homeless encampments.
Lurie said he welcomes continued cooperation with federal agencies like the DEA to fight illegal drugs but warned against “militarized immigration enforcement” in the city.
“Having the military on our streets would hinder recovery,” Lurie said. “San Francisco is coming back — businesses are reopening, buildings are getting leased, and workers are returning downtown.”
Democrats Cheer, Conservatives Cautious
Democrat power players — including Nancy Pelosi and California Governor Gavin Newsom — praised Lurie for persuading Trump to delay federal action. Newsom posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Trump has finally, for once, listened to reason.”
But many conservatives see it differently. Trump’s supporters say the President is giving liberals “one last chance” before sending in the National Guard to finish the job.
“We can take criminals out a lot faster than they can,” Trump warned. “We’re giving them a chance. That’s all.”
Progressives in San Francisco remain skeptical, with some claiming Lurie’s cooperation with federal law enforcement “invites fascism.”
Silicon Valley Billionaires Under Pressure
Benioff of Salesforce — who also owns Time magazine — recently backtracked after calling for National Guard assistance during his company’s major tech conference. Facing backlash from left-wing activists, he apologized and softened his stance.
Nvidia declined to comment on Trump’s remarks.
The outreach, however, shows a growing divide in the tech world — where major CEOs are increasingly aligning with Trump’s tough-on-crime approach after years of failed liberal policies.
Trump’s Message: “Results or Federal Action”
For now, San Francisco gets a reprieve. But Trump made his warning clear: results matter.
If the city backslides or fails to maintain progress, he said, federal law enforcement will return in full force.
“We’re rooting for them,” Trump said. “But if it doesn’t work, we’ll do what needs to be done.”
