San Francisco, October 23, 2025 — In a surprising reversal, US President Donald Trump has pulled back from his widely criticized plan to deploy National Guard troops to San Francisco, following weeks of tension, protests, and warnings from California officials that such an action would violate federal law.

The move marks a rare retreat for Trump, who for months had threatened to “surge” federal military forces into the liberal stronghold as part of his renewed immigration enforcement campaign. The president’s decision came after intense backlash from political leaders, residents, and even prominent Silicon Valley billionaires who personally appealed to him to reconsider.

Tech Billionaires Influence Trump’s Decision

Trump announced his change of heart on his Truth Social platform, crediting influential business figures, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Salesforce cofounder Marc Benioff, for persuading him to pause the controversial deployment.

“The Federal Government was preparing to ‘surge’ San Francisco, California, on Saturday, but friends of mine who live in the area called last night to ask me not to go forward,” Trump wrote. He also said he had spoken with San Francisco’s newly elected mayor, Daniel Lurie, a centrist Democrat and heir to the Levi Strauss fortune.

Trump described their conversation as “respectful,” but left the door open for future action. “He asked very nicely that I give him a chance to see if he can turn it around,” Trump said. “I told him, ‘It’s easier if we do it — faster, stronger, and safer — but let’s see how you do.’”

Widespread Opposition in California

The potential deployment had sparked fierce opposition from state and local officials. Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and likely 2028 presidential contender, condemned Trump’s plan as “an assault on democracy and state sovereignty,” comparing the president’s actions to those of “a wannabe tyrant.”

Newsom vowed that California would sue immediately if any federalized National Guard troops were sent to the Bay Area. He cited the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars federal troops from performing domestic law enforcement duties unless expressly authorized by Congress or the state.

“The idea that the federal government can deploy troops into our cities without justification or oversight is unconstitutional and un-American,” Newsom said in a statement. “California will defend its people and its laws.”

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie echoed that sentiment, calling on residents to “stand united” against what he described as the Trump administration’s “cruel, un-American tactics targeting immigrant communities.” Lurie stressed that local police would not cooperate with any federal immigration enforcement.

“San Francisco will never stand by as our neighbors are targeted,” Lurie declared. “We will not allow the military to intimidate our communities.”

Mounting Protests in the Bay Area

In anticipation of the planned deployment, demonstrators had already taken to the streets of San Francisco and nearby Alameda, where protesters clashed with federal border agents near the Coast Guard base. Civil rights groups, immigrant advocacy organizations, and labor unions organized rallies denouncing Trump’s plan as an abuse of executive power.

“The National Guard is not a political tool,” said Maria Ortega, an organizer with Bay Resistance. “This is about turning our cities into militarized zones to advance an anti-immigrant agenda.”

The protests mirrored nationwide outrage over Trump’s second-term immigration policies, which have included mass deportations, workplace raids, and expanded powers for federal immigration agents. Since returning to office in January, Trump has sent National Guard troops to multiple Democratic-led cities — including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland — drawing lawsuits in each case.

Legal and Political Fallout

California remains locked in a legal battle with the Trump administration over the deployment of 4,000 troops to Los Angeles earlier this year, when protests erupted following a series of federal immigration raids. The state contends the move violated the Posse Comitatus Act, while the administration insists it is justified under provisions of the US Code that allow federalization of state troops in the event of “rebellion” or obstruction of federal law.

Legal experts say Trump’s San Francisco threat would likely have faced the same challenges. “There’s no constitutional basis for deploying the military in response to political dissent or civil protest,” said Professor Elena Martinez, a constitutional law expert at UC Berkeley. “It’s an alarming precedent that erodes civilian control over the military.”

The Role of Marc Benioff and Jensen Huang

Trump’s acknowledgment of Marc Benioff and Jensen Huang’s influence highlights Silicon Valley’s growing political clout. Both executives reportedly reached out to Trump directly, urging him to avoid escalating tensions in the Bay Area.

Benioff had initially expressed support for a temporary National Guard presence to improve public safety during Salesforce’s annual Dreamforce conference, but he quickly walked back his comments after public outrage.

“I do not believe the National Guard is needed to address safety in San Francisco,” Benioff clarified in a social media post. “My earlier comment came from an abundance of caution, and I sincerely apologize for the concern it caused.”

A City Under the Spotlight

San Francisco, long a target of Trump’s political rhetoric, has become a symbolic battleground for his administration’s broader narrative about “law and order” and “Democrat-run cities.” The president has frequently cited homelessness, drug use, and crime in San Francisco as evidence of liberal governance failure.

“San Francisco was one of the great cities of the world,” Trump told Fox News earlier this month. “Then it went woke, and it went wrong.”

Mayor Lurie, meanwhile, has expressed willingness to collaborate with federal agencies like the FBI and DEA on crime and overdose prevention — but not on immigration enforcement or military involvement. “Having the military in our streets will only deepen fear and division,” he said.

Trump’s Reversal: Political Strategy or Temporary Pause?

Analysts say Trump’s decision to pause the deployment may be more strategic than conciliatory. “This isn’t a full reversal — it’s a delay,” said political analyst Terrence Caldwell. “He’s listening to allies in the business world, but he’s also keeping the issue alive for his base.”

With his 2026 reelection campaign ramping up, Trump’s handling of immigration and urban crime remains central to his political messaging. However, the backlash in California demonstrates the limits of federal authority — and the rising resistance from state governments and private sector voices alike.

For now, San Francisco has avoided a military surge. But residents, activists, and officials remain on alert, wary that Trump’s “pause” could quickly turn into another confrontation in the ongoing battle over immigration, law enforcement, and state sovereignty.