San Francisco officials respond to President Trump's plan to send National Guard

NBC Bay Area

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Video Summary

President Trump's plan to deploy the National Guard to San Francisco is facing significant opposition from city leaders and legal challenges. A recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling upheld the deployment of the National Guard to Portland, with a two-to-one majority opinion citing the president's assessment of facts and law as colorable. However, a dissenting judge criticized the ruling, arguing it was based on supposition and fabrication, and urged for the order to be vacated. Despite these legal developments, President Trump reiterated his intention to send troops to San Francisco, citing crime as a reason and hinting at the use of the Insurrection Act. Local officials, including District Attorney Brook Jenkins and City Attorney David Chu, have expressed concerns about the potential abuse of power and stated that San Francisco is safer than it has been in decades, with the National Guard lacking the authority to address issues like drug dealing.

One striking aspect of the transcript is the stark contrast between the president's rhetoric and the assertions of local authorities regarding the safety and needs of San Francisco. The court's decision in the Portland case, while not directly governing San Francisco, sets a precedent that could embolden further federal action

Short Highlights

A two-to-one ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld President Trump's order to deploy the National Guard to Portland.
The majority opinion stated the president's claim of needing troops to quell protests "reflects a colorable assessment of the facts and law."
A dissenting judge argued the ruling was based on "supposition or conjecture" and "fabrication of propaganda."
President Trump plans to send the National Guard to San Francisco, citing a need to combat crime and hinting at using the Insurrection Act.
San Francisco officials, including the District Attorney and City Attorney, state the city is safe and that the National Guard cannot arrest drug dealers or address fentanyl issu

Key Details

Troop Deployment to Portland and San Francisco [00:00]

A two-to-one ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld President Trump's order to deploy the National Guard to Portland.
The majority opinion, written by circuit judges Ryan Nelson and Bridget Vad, found the president's claim of needing troops to quell violent protests to be a "colorable assessment of the facts and law within a range of honest judgment."
The Oregon Attorney General's office argued that protests in Portland had been "very contained, very small, and largely peaceful for the past several months."
Dissenting Circuit Judge Susan Greyber criticized the majority, stating, "We rule on facts, not on supposition or conjecture, and certainly not on fabrication of propaganda." She urged the order to be vacated to prevent illegal troop deployment under "false pretenses."
This ruling may pave the way for similar deployments in other cities, including San Francisco.

President Trump's Stance on San Francisco [01:17]

President Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to send the National Guard to San Francisco, expressing frustration with legal efforts to prevent such deployments.
He declared, "We're going to go into San Francisco at some point in the not too distant future and make that a great city again."
Trump linked the city's greatness to its crime rate, stating, "It can only be a great city if it doesn't have crime. If it has crime, it can't be a great city."
He also alluded to potentially using the Insurrection Act, noting, "And don't forget, and I haven't used it, but don't forget, I can use the Insurrection Act."

"We're going to go into San Francisco at some point in the not too distant future and make that a great city again. It can only be a great city if it doesn't have crime. If it has crime, it can't be a great city."

Opposition and Concerns from San Francisco Officials [01:46]

District Attorney Brook Jenkins warned that invoking the Insurrection Act would be a "dangerous abuse of power."
City Attorney David Chu joined other local leaders in asserting that San Francisco is "as safe as it's been in decades."
Chu criticized the administration's approach, stating, "This is not an administration care about statistic or facts. uh they're going to say whatever it is they're going to say."
He affirmed San Francisco's readiness to protect its residents and visitors.
California Congressman Jimmy Petta suggested the president's use of troops in cities is part of a "political playbook" for "retribution, for provocation, and as a distraction."
Mayor Daniel Luri released a statement indicating the National Guard "does not have the authority to arrest drug dealers" and that sending them to San Francisco "will do nothing to get fentinel off the streets or make our city safer."

"The National Guard does not have the authority to arrest drug dealers, and sending them to San Francisco will do nothing to get fentinel off the streets or make our city safer."