San Francisco Mayor Successfully Desuades Trump's Plan to Send Federal Agents

San Francisco's Mayor shared with CBS News that he effectively persuaded President Trump months ago through a phone conversation to retract from dispatching federal agents to the city.

During a televised conversation with CBS Evening News host Tony Dokoupil, Mayor Lurie, self-titled as a moderate Democrat, described an unexpected call he received from the President while he was in his vehicle.

Recollecting the conversation, Lurie mentioned, "He opened with a simple inquiry, asking how things were progressing in San Francisco."

Back in October, indications were made known that the administration was preparing for an increased presence of Border Patrol in San Francisco as part of its immigration enforcement, which had previously spread to major cities like Los Angeles. California leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Lurie, strongly opposed this plan.

Following these events, President Trump publicized the suspension of this action, attributing the decision to his exchange with Lurie.

Announcing on Truth Social on October 23, Trump disclosed, "Mayor Lurie courteously requested some time to address the situation himself." He further mentioned having received calls from friends in the area who advised against proceeding with the intervention.

In his dialogue with the President, Lurie recounted stating, "San Francisco is improving, experiencing historically low crime rates, and thriving economically, with our police force making notable progress."

San Francisco has been repeatedly criticized by Republican figures regarding its approach to crime and homelessness, issues that fueled Lurie's election win in 2024.

Ongoing Challenges in San Francisco

Lurie conceded that the city still grapples with numerous issues. "We’ve made progress, particularly in curtailing daytime drug markets. Nevertheless, certain areas remain problematic after dark," he noted.

While aligning himself with the progress within the city, Lurie refrained from voicing an opinion on a proposal for a single-time 5% tax on billionaires, emphasizing his focus on localized efforts rather than state or national matters.