SAN FRANCISCO (KRONA) – President Donald Trump is doubling down on the idea of deploying the National Guard in San Francisco. The president, who raised the idea of federal intervention in San Francisco last week during a White House news conference, resurfaced the idea over the weekend in an interview with Fox News.
“We’re going to San Francisco next,” Trump told Fox News Channel’s Maria Bartiromo on Sunday. “The difference is, I think they wanted us in San Francisco. San Francisco was truly one of the great cities in the world. And then, 15 years ago, something went wrong. I woke up.”
During the clip, Trump also hinted that he might be willing to invoke the Insurrection Act in order to deploy troops to San Francisco.
“Don’t forget, I didn’t use it, but don’t forget. I can use the Insurrection Act,” Trump told Bartiromo. Trump said: “About 50% of presidents have used this power, and this power is unquestioned.”
The Insurrection Act, which allows the president to deploy the military domestically to enforce civilian law, is rarely triggered. Over the course of more than 230 years, the law has been used 30 times, most recently in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush in response to the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles.
Trump has hinted at deploying federal forces in San Francisco several times in recent months. His latest interest in the city appears to have emerged after Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff told the New York Times that he supports the idea of the Sentinel coming to San Francisco.
Met with significant backlash that at times overshadowed last week’s Dreamforce conference, Benioff has since backtracked and apologized for his comments.
San Francisco city leaders, who have touted declining crime rates citywide, including a historically low homicide rate, have been emphatic in saying that the National Guard is neither necessary nor desirable.
Without mentioning Trump by name, or the National Guard specifically, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has repeatedly emphasized that safety is his administration’s “number one priority.” San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said she “would not hesitate” to bring charges against federal agents or troopers if they violate the law.
“We don’t want you here. We don’t want your invading army or your secret police wearing ski masks,” he said. State Sen. Scott Wienera prominent SF Democrat, is rumored to be eyeing a run for Nancy Pelosi’s seat.
Trump has already deployed the National Guard to several large Democratic-led cities, including Chicago, Portland and Los Angeles.