Can San Francisco avoid Trump's ire after National Guard deployments in D.C. and L.A.?
And once again, the city in question is not San Francisco, a past Trump target that has so far avoided the kind of direct clash with his administration that previously played out in Los Angeles and is now unfolding in Washington.
Trump announced Monday that he was temporarily placing the D.C. police department under federal control and sending 800 National Guard troops to the nation's capital. Those extraordinary steps were necessary because of 'violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals' that have overrun the city, Trump said, even though official statistics show violent crime in Washington is down.
The president put other cities on notice, warning that New York, Chicago, Baltimore and Oakland could also see National Guard deployments over crime concerns. He did not mention San Francisco, a famously liberal sanctuary city that was panned by Trump last year as 'not even livable.'
It's not as if San Francisco is flying under Trump's radar entirely. He has promoted the unlikely idea of reopening Alcatraz as a federal prison, and immigration agents have detained people in the city as they've sought to carry out Trump's mass deportation plans. San Francisco has also repeatedly fought Trump administration policies in court.
But when it comes to Trump sending military forces to what he views as lawless cities led astray by Democratic politicians, San Francisco and its mayor, Daniel Lurie, do not appear to be top of mind for the president — at least not for now. Some political observers say that's a testament to how well Lurie and other moderate Democrats are running the city, while others warn that Trump could easily turn his ire on the city at a moment's notice.
Jay Cheng, executive director of the moderate political group Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, sees political vindication in the fact that Trump didn't invoke San Francisco when he previously sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles or when he announced the actions in Washington on Monday.
Cheng said San Francisco voters have shown in electing Lurie, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and a moderate Board of Supervisors majority that they're focused on improving police staffing, reducing crime, shutting down drug markets and making the city function more efficiently.
'In San Francisco, we're showing that Democratic leaders can successfully govern a city,' Cheng said. 'He's not mentioning us because we're not a good example for his narrative, because we have Democrats that are doing a great job around public safety.'
State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, had a more blunt assessment of Trump's treatment of New York, Chicago, Baltimore, Oakland and Washington. All of those cities have Black mayors and large Black populations, Wiener noted, calling it 'straight up Donald Trump's alley and straight out of his racist playbook.'
Wiener doubted that Trump was taking note of any specific political changes in San Francisco when thinking about where he wanted to send the National Guard.
'Donald Trump has taken many swings at San Francisco over the years — just ask Nancy Pelosi,' Wiener said.
'The other thing is, when it comes to Trump, the eye of Sauron is going to look wherever it's going to look,' Wiener said. 'If he's going after Oakland, Baltimore, Chicago, New York and L.A. today, he's going to go after other cities tomorrow.'
Since he became San Francisco mayor in January, Lurie has carefully avoided even uttering Trump's name in public in an attempt to avoid drawing too much attention from a vengeful president with a reputation for being unpredictable. He's seen little evidence that his approach is unpopular: In fact, 50% of respondents in a recent Chronicle poll said the mayor was right to prioritize local issues. Lurie's office had no comment Monday.
Former Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said Monday that she has 'great compassion for the mayors who are struggling with the right thing to do in Trump's second term,' pointing to the decisive conservative control of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress.
Schaff had a widely-publicized clash with Trump during his first term in 2018, when she as Oakland mayor issued a public warning about an imminent immigration sweep. Trump called her action a 'disgrace' and urged his attorney general to consider prosecuting Schaaf. In direct response to Schaaf, a Republican Congressman introduced unsuccessful legislation that would have imposed criminal penalties — and possible jailtime — against local officials who made similar disclosures.
Schaaf said she thinks it's 'wise' for mayors to focus on what they were elected to do, unless they find themselves directly in the crosshairs of the White House, which is the situation that she thinks she faced in Oakland seven years ago.
'I really did not want to be sucked into a national debate when I was elected to run the city, to keep people safe,' Schaaf said. 'It doesn't surprise me that Mayor Lurie is focused on what he was elected to do and not allowing himself to be distracted, because Trump hasn't called out San Francisco in this way.'
Barbara Lee, Oakland's current mayor, responded Monday to Trump's comments about her city by calling them inaccurate and 'an attempt to score cheap political points by tearing down communities he doesn't understand.' Schaaf told the Chronicle that she has 'a lot of respect and faith' that Lee will 'do what is right for her values and the values of Oakland.'
And while Trump isn't talking much about San Francisco now, that could change under the wrong circumstances, said Jeff Cretan, who was a spokesperson for former Mayor London Breed. A high-profile violent incident during an immigration action or protest in San Francisco could quickly result in Trump setting his sights on the city, Cretan said.
'I don't want to see something horrible happen, but that could change things,' he said. 'Sometimes those moments are what galvanize people … Those bigger, symbolic things that resonate with people more often are what draw a lot of the attention.'
Lurie has clearly indicated his desire to avoid such a scenario. In June, after Trump first sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles, a reporter asked Lurie if he anticipated something similar happening in San Francisco, where protests had already erupted.
Lurie said he was focused on 'keeping San Franciscans safe.'
'We have this under control,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
24 minutes ago
- Forbes
Saudi Arabia, Turkey And Syrian Reconstruction
Profoundly relieved that Syria, after the December 2024 collapse of the Assad regime, broke free of Iran's orbit, Saudi Arabia is now trying to contain Turkey's influence in the Levantine nation. Turkey enjoys the advantages of geography and significant military strength but is hampered by serious economic challenges. Leveraging its position as the world's largest oil exporter, Riyadh seeks to exploit Ankara's financial constraints to establish itself as a major stakeholder in Syria—and, by extension, in the broader Middle East. Achieving a Saudi–Turkish modus vivendi will be critical to the Trump administration's objective of managing the Middle East while reducing U.S. exposure to regional instability." In an unprecedented move late last month, Saudi Arabia pledged $6.4 billion in public and private sector investments for Syria's reconstruction. Leading a delegation of roughly 120 government officials and business leaders, Investment Minister Khalid al-Falih traveled to Damascus to attend the inaugural Syrian–Saudi Investment Forum. The two-day event held July 23–24, yielded 47 agreements spanning energy, infrastructure, telecommunications, real estate, agriculture, and banking. Riyadh's decision to invest—at such scale and in what remains an active battlespace—came just three weeks after the United States lifted sanctions on Syria, a policy shift President Donald Trump announced during his mid-May visit to Saudi Arabia, his first major international trip of his second term. Saudi Arabia and Turkey form the two pillars of the Trump administration's strategy for managing the Middle East—an approach rooted in the president's broader geostrategic approach that allies and partners should take the lead in ensuring the security and prosperity of their respective regions. As the region's center of gravity, Syria is a country Washington seeks to steer toward stability. This priority was underscored by Trump's decision to meet with Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa—a man who, until 2017, led al-Qaeda in his country. The meeting, hosted by Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) and attended virtually by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, reflected the high stakes and regional coordination driving U.S. policy. Under Erdogan, Turkey has long supported different Islamist factions to further its strategic interests, especially the goal of countering Kurdish separatism on its southeastern periphery. Ankara has actually had close ties with Sharaa's ruling Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) since its inception in 2017. For Saudi Arabia, however, this marks the first time it has supported a government dominated by an Islamist movement. The magnitude of this policy shift is highlighted by the fact that Riyadh had fully restored diplomatic relations with the now-ousted Assad regime just three months before its overthrow by HTS. Several factors explain this dramatic shift. First, Riyadh had not anticipated the Assad regime's collapse as a byproduct of Iran's weakening in its conflict with Israel. In fact, even as Iran and its premier proxy, Hezbollah, were being eroded through much of 2024, the Saudis appointed their first ambassador to Damascus in 12 years—capping a year-long diplomatic process that included former President Bashar al-Assad's visit to Riyadh in May 2023. In a sense, by normalizing ties with Syria, the kingdom was fortuitously positioned to engage with the new HTS-led government. Second, and more strategically, the Saudis were keen not to miss the historic opportunity presented by regime change in Damascus, which effectively ended Iran's domination of Syria. Riyadh sought to capitalize on the moment and secure its northern flank, long overshadowed by Tehran's contiguous sphere of influence. Third, Turkey was far better positioned to benefit from Syria's detachment from Iran. Its extensive southern border provided Ankara with a significant advantage, allowing it to fill the vacuum left by Tehran's receding presence. With 20,000 troops and tens of thousands of allied militiamen, Turkey has controlled significant swathes of territory across five northern Syrian provinces since 2016. This forward deployment allowed Ankara to provide critical military and intelligence support that enabled HTS to overthrow the Assad regime. Today, Turkey is taking the lead in shaping the post-Assad Syrian state, particularly by directing the development of its armed forces. Nonetheless, Ankara's economic fragilities—soaring inflation, a volatile currency, mounting debt, and a weak financial sector—severely constrain its ability to contribute meaningfully to reconstruction in its war-torn southern neighbor. The Turks understand that for their Syrian allies to consolidate power in Damascus, they must demonstrate tangible progress in rebuilding Syria's infrastructure and restoring essential services. This is a Herculean task, given that international assessments estimate reconstruction costs in the hundreds of billions of dollars, leaving Ankara little choice but to seek Saudi assistance. From Riyadh's perspective, this presents a strategic opening to limit Turkey's influence over the emerging Syrian state. By leveraging Turkish dependence on the kingdom and other wealthy Gulf actors such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia can construct a bulwark against Ankara's ambitions to assert itself as the region's dominant power. This imperative is shaped by a long history dating back to the 18th century when the first Saudi state was established in the mid-18th century after MbS' ancestors rebelled against Erdogan's Ottoman forebearers. The Ottomans were able to dismantle the first and second Saudi states in 1824 and 1891 respectively but their own empire collapsed at the end of World War I by which time the Saudis were on their way to staging a comeback in the form of the current modern kingdom. By the late 20th century, Turkey had become a major military and industrial power, while Saudi Arabia leveraged vast oil reserves to emerge as a global financial heavyweight, setting the stage for both nations to assert themselves as major powers. The two nations, however, did not embark upon the path towards strategic competition until the Erdogan regime in the late 2000s began to reorient Turkey from the west and towards the Middle East. This shift was shaped by three decades of upheaval—the collapse of the Soviet Union, the September 11 attacks, and the Arab Spring. Iran's arc of influence extending westwards from the Zagros Mountains to the Eastern Mediterranean, however, continued to serve as a buffer between the Turks and the Saudis. Until last year, when the destruction of Hezbollah's offensive capabilities in Lebanon, which led to the ouster of the Assad regime, brought them face-to-face with one another in Syria. Despite their domestic constraints, both countries view Syria as a strategic priority. The Saudis lack the military and strategic capabilities to match Turkey, while Ankara does not possess the financial leverage Riyadh can wield. These complementary strengths compel the two to cooperate in pursuit of their objectives in Syria. They also share the goal of preventing an Iranian resurgence while ensuring that Israel's security concerns do not derail their mutual aim of stabilizing the country.
Los Angeles Times
25 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Blackwater founder to deploy nearly 200 personnel to Haiti as gang violence soars
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The security firm of former U.S. Navy Seal Erik Prince will soon deploy nearly 200 personnel from various countries to Haiti as part of a one-year deal to quell gang violence there, a person with knowledge of the plans said Thursday. The deployment by Vectus Global is meant to help the government of Haiti recover vast swaths of territory seized in the past year and now controlled by heavily armed gangs, said the person, speaking to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the plans. The company, which provides logistics, infrastructure, security and defense, is run by Prince, a major donor to President Trump. Prince previously founded the controversial security firm Blackwater. The deployment was first reported by Reuters. Vectus Global also will assume a long-term role in advising Haiti's government on how to restore revenue collection capabilities once the violence subsides, the person said. In June, Fritz Alphonse Jean, then-leader of Haiti's transitional presidential council, confirmed that the government was using foreign contractors. He declined to identify the firm or say how much the deal was worth. Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, head of Haiti Observatory at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, said the operations would violate U.S. law unless the U.S.-based private military company had permission from the U.S. government to work in Haiti. 'In the absence of a coherent, jointly led Haitian and international strategy, the use of private firms is more likely to fragment authority and sovereignty than to advance resolution of the crisis,' he said. A Trump administration official said the U.S. government has no involvement with the hiring of Vectus Global by the Haitian government. The U.S. government is not funding this contract or exercising any oversight, said the official, who requested anonymity to discuss the situation. The office of Haiti's prime minister did not return a message for comment, nor did members of Haiti's transitional presidential council. The private contractors, which will come from the United States, Europe and other regions, are expected to advise and support Haiti's National Police and a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police officers that is struggling to suppress gang violence. The U.N.-backed mission has 991 personnel, far less than the 2,500 envisioned, and some $112 million in its trust fund — about 14% of the estimated $800 million needed a year, according to a recent U.N. report. The upcoming deployment of private contractors comes after the recent appointment of André Jonas Vladimir Paraison as the country's new police director general. Paraison once served as head of security for Haiti's National Palace and was involved in a new task forced created earlier this year made up of certain police units and private contractors. The task force has operated outside the oversight of Haiti's National Police and employed the use of explosive drones, which some human rights activists have criticized. Diego Da Rin, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, said that while there's an obvious need for more anti-gang operations, 'there is a risk of escalating the conflict without having enough personnel to extinguish the fires that Viv Ansanm can ignite in many places.' Viv Ansanm is a powerful gang federation created in September 2023 that saw the merging of gangs, including G-9 and G-Pèp — once bitter enemies. The United States designated it as a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year. The gang federation was responsible for coordinating a series of large-scale attacks early last year that included raids on Haiti's two biggest prisons that led to the release of some 4,000 inmates. Viv Ansanm also forced the closure of Haiti's main international airport for nearly three months, with the violence eventually prompting then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign. Jimmy Chérizier, a leader of Viv Ansanm and best known as Barbecue, recently threatened Paraison. 'Viv Ansanm has a military might that they don't always show,' said Da Rin, the analyst. At least 1,520 people were killed and more than 600 injured from April to the end of June across Haiti. More than 60% of the killings and injuries occurred during operations by security forces against gangs, with another 12% blamed on self-defense groups, according to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti. Gang violence also has displaced some 1.3 million people in recent years. Coto writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Joshua Boak in Washington contributed to this report.
Los Angeles Times
25 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
The paintings of newly minted Kennedy Center honoree Sly Stallone: L.A. arts and culture this weekend
There was much ado Wednesday about President Donald Trump's picks to receive the coveted Kennedy Center Honors in December. Journalists and culture watchers combed through the histories of the president's nominees—including actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone, glam-rock band KISS, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, country music star George Strait and English actor Michael Crawford—in order to better understand his choices. Gaynor left some scratching their heads, especially because the disco queen's most iconic song, 'I Will Survive' is an established anthem on dance floors at LGBTQ+ clubs. But Stallone—fondly known as Sly Stallone—seemed an obvious option. He was part of a cohort of tough-guy performers chosen by Trump, including Jon Voight and Mel Gibson, named as 'special ambassadors' to Hollywood, and he once called Trump the 'second George Washington' while introducing at a gala in Palm Beach, Florida. But the heart of an artist apparently beats beneath 'Rocky' star's hardened pectorals. His Instagram is littered with abstract paintings featuring thick, brash strokes with obvious nods to the work of Jackson Pollock and Jean-Michel Basquiat. He is exclusively represented by Provident Fine Art in Palm Beach, and regularly posts his canvases to social media with captions like, 'No hesitation. No overthinking. Just color, motion, guts. Sometimes you don't wait for the perfect moment—you throw the punch and make it count.' Another, of a twisted yellow and red face, reads, 'A portrait I did of Rambo's state of mind before he enters a BATTLE, called '…SEEING RED'.' Not all of Sly's fans are happy about his affiliation with Trump. A comment on his most recent painting read, 'Sorry to hear you are taking part in the Kennedy honors. Linking your self to trump is not a good look. I hope you reconsider.' I'm arts and culture writer Jessica Gelt, wondering if the 'Tulsa King's' oil paintings might now make it into the Smithsonian. Here's your arts news for the week. AntigoneFrederique Michel directs Neil Labute's adaptation of the Jean Anouilh play exploring the effects of authoritarianism (inspired by Sophocles, it was first produced in 1944 Paris during the Nazi occupation).Friday through Sept. 21. City Garage Theatre, Bergamot Station Arts Center, 2525 Michigan Ave. T1, Santa Monica. Pirates WantedLast Call Theatre presents an immersive adventure experience featuring swashbuckling, knot tying, navigation, liar's dice, sea shanties, and more. Recommended for landlubbers 13 and over. Younger mateys must be accompanied by an 16-17, 22-24. Pine Ave. Pier, Long Beach. Rachmaninoff Under the StarsTwo nights, two different programs of the Russian romanticist's work featuring Russian pianist Daniil Trifinov and the L.A. Phil conducted by Daniel Harding.8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N Highland Ave. ShuckedThe corn and puns are higher than an elephant's eye in this Tony-winning musical comedy with a book by Robert Horn, music and lyrics by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally and directed by Jack O' through Sept. 7. Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Herbie HancockThe versatile performed is joined by trumpeter Terence Blanchard, bassist James Genus, guitarist-singer Lionel Loueke and drummer Jaylen Petinaud for a freewheeling night of jazz.8 p.m. Wednesday. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N Highland Ave. Riverside artist Perry Picasshoe found a way to address the pain and upheaval of seeing people in his community pursued and deported by ICE. In a symbolic effort, Picasshoe melted 36 ice blocks on sidewalks of the Inland Empire where enforcement raids took place. 'I took it as a metaphor of what's happening,' Picasshoe said in an interview with De Los. 'I was also thinking a lot about having these blocks of ice as almost a stand-in for people.' Times Theater Critic Charles McNulty attended a Black Out matinee performance of the two-character play, 'Berta, Berta,' by Angelica Chéri. The show is receiving its West Coast premiere in an Echo Theater Company production at Atwater Village Theatre directed by Andi Chapman. The action, which takes place in 1923 Mississippi, unfolds as the titular character wakes in the middle of the night to find the love of her life covered in the blood of a man he killed. The play's themes were enhanced by the unique community environment of the performance, McNulty writes. 'I was more alert to the through line of history. Although set in the Deep South during the Jim Crow era, there appeared to be little distance between the characters and the audience,' he notes. A new museum is set to open in an historic building in Miami, honoring, 'the history of Cuban exiles with immersive, state-of-the-art exhibits that explore the meaning of migration, freedom and homeland,' writes Joshua Goodman. The building that houses the new enterprise was once the city's tallest structure and was known as the 'Ellis Island' of Miami. Lula Washington Dance Theatre is celebrating its 45th anniversary on Aug. 23 at the Ford. Washington has been a seminal figure in the arts world, including in her homebase of South L.A.—guiding and shaping hundreds of young community members and dancers at her studio over the years. The company has toured extensively around America and the world, and in 2021 received a nearly $1 million Mellon Grant. 'Where there's a will there's a way. We are still here! After all of the trials and tribulations, riots, earthquakes, COVID and Project 2025, we are still dancing! Dance has saved us and it will save us all,' Washington told The Times in advance of the anniversary, The tribute at the Ford will include performances of historic Washington pieces alongside new works by Martha Graham, Donald McKayle and more. Contemporary jazz musician Kamasi Washington composed music for one of the pieces. For tickets and additional information, click here. The Old Globe announced that actress Katie Holmes will kick off the theater's 2026 season in a new production of Henrik Ibsen's 'Hedda Gabler,' directed by the Globe's Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. The classic stage play is being given fresh life in a Globe-commissioned new version by playwright and screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson. The show marks Holmes' return to the Globe after Edelstein directed her in a 2023 production of 'The Wanderers.' Performances are scheduled to run from Feb. 7 to March 8, 2026, and tickets are currently available by subscription only at The Broad is back with its summer concert series. On Aug. 16, guests can attend a show called, 'PAST + FUTURE = PRESENT, Pt. 1.' The after hours event (8 p.m, to 11 p.m.) includes access to the special exhibition, 'Jeffrey Gibson: the space in which to place me,' as well as two performance stages on several museum floors. Haisla hip hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids will rock out upstairs while indie rockers Black Belt Eagle Scout will take to the lobby stage. — Jessica Gelt Wondering what Trump's Kennedy Center Honors announcement felt like to watch? Here are the first 13 minutes, although it went on for much (much) longer.
