Trump says he intends to deploy federal troops to San Francisco

President Donald Trump said on Sunday he intends to deploy federal troops, including National Guard units, to San Francisco to address crime, setting up a likely legal and political confrontation with state and city officials who say they do not want federal forces on their streets. The president said he believes residents want the deployment but it was not clear whether any troops have been mobilized.

In a White House interview, the president reiterated plans he has already pursued in other cities this year, where National Guard or federal forces were sent to locations including Los Angeles and Washington. He also said he could invoke the Insurrection Act to federalize state guards and authorize broader troop deployments if state leaders resist. The Insurrection Act permits presidents to call up National Guard or federal troops during episodes of civil unrest or insurrection, but legal experts note it has been used rarely and typically in limited circumstances.

California officials responded sharply. Governor Gavin Newsom said the city did not want federal forces and warned that a deployment would harm San Francisco. The city mayor pointed to local police data showing overall...