Newsom: California will ‘immediately’ sue Trump if he sends troops to San Francisco

California is preparing to take swift legal action if President Donald Trump attempts to deploy troops to San Francisco. Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a strong warning, signaling a full-scale opposition to such a move.

The Trump administration recently sent National Guard troops to Chicago and Portland, Oregon, sparking protests and legal challenges. Over the weekend, Trump indicated he might send forces to San Francisco, calling the city “a mess” and claiming it wants federal help.

Trump criticized the city for becoming “woke” 15 years ago, though statistics show San Francisco is experiencing a post-pandemic recovery. Crime rates have fallen, homicides are at a 70-year low, and tourism and the office market are rebounding, driven in part by the booming AI industry.

Newsom, who served as San Francisco’s mayor from 2004 to 2011, has strongly opposed any National Guard deployment, calling Trump a “wannabe tyrant” and asserting that such action would violate state sovereignty and the rule of law. Other city leaders, including Mayor Daniel Lurie and District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, agree that deploying troops is unnecessary and would be ineffective, as federal law prevents them from acting as local police.

The debate intensified after Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff suggested the National Guard could serve as police, prompting backlash and a public apology.

California officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta and City Attorney David Chiu, have pledged legal action if Trump moves forward. Newsom is already pursuing a lawsuit to end the federalization of California National Guard troops, which began in June amid protests over federal deportation policies.

Mayor Lurie has organized a city response team of public safety leaders and legal representatives to prepare for any potential federal action, emphasizing the city’s readiness to oppose the deployment if necessary.