Overview
- President Trump told Fox News he intends to deploy National Guard forces to San Francisco, saying "We're going to go to San Francisco" and asserting he could invoke the Insurrection Act.
- Trump characterized the authority as "unquestioned power," though historical records show the Insurrection Act has been invoked by roughly one-fourth of presidents.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and Mayor Daniel Lurie rejected federal intervention, with Lurie pointing to significant crime declines and a smoothly run Dreamforce.
- Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, whose earlier support for a Guard presence fueled backlash and a resignation from Salesforce Foundation board member Ron Conway, apologized on Oct. 18 and said troops are not needed in the city.
- Prior federal deployments have drawn court blocks and legal rulings, including in Portland and Los Angeles, signaling any attempt to send troops to San Francisco would face immediate legal challenges.