President Donald Trump is reiterating his plan to deploy National Guard forces to San Francisco, asserting that residents of the city “desire” this action.

“We intend to go to San Francisco—the distinction being, I believe they welcome us in San Francisco,” he stated during the Fox News show “Sunday Morning Futures,” broadcast recently.

“San Francisco truly stood as one of the world’s magnificent cities, but approximately 15 years ago, it veered off course—it embraced ‘woke’ ideology,” Trump added. “We will intervene in San Francisco, and we will restore its greatness.”

Since reassuming office in January, the President has either dispatched or proposed sending federal forces to numerous other cities.

He has not yet sent troops to San Francisco during either of his presidencies, and California authorities are resisting the prospect of such a deployment now. The National Guard has been dispatched to the Northern California metropolis on several prior occasions, one of which occurred under the current state governor, Gavin Newsom. However, should the President proceed with his declared objective, it would likely deviate from previous deployments by deploying the Guard contrary to the desires of local officials.

Here is key information regarding Trump’s recent comments concerning San Francisco and the city’s historical National Guard deployments.

What is the reaction of local officials to Trump’s statements?

Trump’s recent assertions regarding the deployment of troops to San Francisco provoked strong criticism from California authorities. On Sunday, Newsom posted on X, “Fact check: No one desires your presence here. You will devastate one of America’s most significant cities.” The previous week, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi likewise refuted Trump’s earlier statements concerning the city.

“San Francisco neither seeks nor requires Donald Trump’s disruption,” she declared in a statement. “Our City prides itself immensely on the measures we have implemented to markedly enhance public safety and diminish crime, collaborating with community and state authorities—all without the intervention of a President driven by media attention.”

Trump has already dispatched the National Guard to California this year: During the summer, he deployed troops to Los Angeles following demonstrations sparked by immigration raids in the city. Local leaders, including , denounced the President’s measures. Last month, a federal judge ruled that the deployment contravened a long-established federal statute.

What do statistics indicate regarding crime rates in San Francisco?

Earlier this month, Trump characterized San Francisco as a “disorderly state” and hinted at deploying troops there. He has voiced comparable remarks about several other Democrat-governed cities, including and , asserting their lack of safety.

Statistics indicate that crime in San Francisco, mirroring trends in several other U.S. cities, has already been decreasing. Total crime in the city has fallen by approximately 26% year-to-date compared to the equivalent period in 2024, according to . For example, homicides have decreased by roughly 12%, and rapes have seen a nearly 17% reduction. Robberies and burglaries have declined by about 23% and 28%, respectively. Mayor Daniel Lurie stated last week that crime levels are “at their lowest point in decades,” with homicides reaching 70-year lows. 

Marc Benioff, the founder of tech firm Salesforce and co-chair and owner of TIME, ignited controversy when he suggested earlier this month that he thought the President ought to dispatch federal troops to the city to aid in crime reduction. He has since retracted those remarks.

“I do not consider the National Guard necessary to enhance safety in San Francisco,” he posted on X on Friday. “I genuinely regret any apprehension my earlier comments may have created.”

On what occasions have military forces been dispatched to San Francisco historically?

National Guard personnel have been deployed to the Northern California city multiple times throughout history—though always either at the behest of or with the consent of local authorities.

In April 1906, an earthquake devastated San Francisco, igniting numerous fires that obliterated over 500 city blocks in the downtown area. Upon the then-mayor’s request, troops already stationed in the city responded to the emergency, although this deployment drew criticism, especially concerning the soldiers’ use of force against alleged looters.

Approximately thirty years subsequent, troops were once more dispatched to the city when dockworkers initiated a strike. Public disorder erupted as striking laborers engaged in confrontations with local police. Two individuals died at the hands of officers, and over 100 sustained injuries. The then-governor of California formally requested the National Guard’s intervention.

On September 27, 1966, a white San Francisco police officer fatally shot Matthew Johnson, an unarmed Black adolescent who was escaping the scene of a vehicle theft. Demonstrations ensued following the shooting, and the then-governor activated the National Guard for several days to address the turmoil.

In 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake impacted the Bay Area, resulting in dozens of fatalities and thousands of injuries. The National Guard was mobilized to support emergency response and recuperation activities.

In 2023, Newsom directed California National Guard personnel to join a novel multi-agency initiative aimed at combating fentanyl trafficking in San Francisco. His office indicated that California National Guard members would “provide analytical support for drug trafficking operations, with specific attention to disrupting and dismantling fentanyl networks in the area that exacerbate the current public safety and public health emergency.” Newsom additionally empowered service members to assist local law enforcement officers “with administrative duties unrelated to patrol, thereby enhancing law enforcement’s capacity to confront urgent crime-fighting endeavors” linked to the fentanyl operation.