SAN FRANCISCO – President Donald Trump was poised to deploy federal forces to San Francisco, a city he has often criticized as emblematic of liberal policy failures. However, after engaging in discussions with influential tech industry leaders and the city’s mayor, he decided to reconsider his approach.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, Trump mentioned receiving a “great call” from prominent figures, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff. These conversations, he noted, influenced his decision. Both executives, who lead some of the world’s leading tech companies, assured him that San Francisco was actively tackling its crime issues.

“We’re holding off on that surge, everybody. We’re going to let them try and manage it,” Trump stated, adding that he remains open to revisiting the decision if necessary.

The initial plan, which was set to be executed on Saturday, involved a greater federal presence. Trump did not clarify whether this involved only National Guard troops, which he had previously threatened to deploy, or if it also included heightened immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, the arrival of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at a nearby Coast Guard base on Thursday morning sparked protests.

Trump’s revised strategy reflects a more cautious stance, likely influenced by insights from key San Francisco stakeholders.

Outreach from billionaire CEOs clearly had a hand in the rare reprieve Trump handed a Democrat-led city. But Trump also credited Mayor Daniel Lurie, who has worked to avoid direct confrontation with the Republican president since both took office in January. Lurie has governed as an earnest and relentless cheerleader of San Francisco, and repeatedly refused to weigh in on national politics or to mention Trump’s name.

Instead, he’s focused on local issues — public safety, luring back business and reversing the city’s pandemic-fueled decline. When Trump said repeatedly earlier this week that he’d send the National Guard into San Francisco to quell crime, Lurie noted overall crime is down 26% compared to last year and car break-ins are at a 22-year low.

“I told the mayor, I love what you’re doing, I respect it, and I respect the people that are doing it,” Trump said, referencing a phone call the two had Wednesday.

An heir to the Levi Strauss fortune and anti-poverty philanthropist, Lurie is a centrist Democrat who had never held office until he ousted then-Mayor London Breed in last November’s election. He has stated no other political aspirations than to improve the city and has said that he will work with anyone who wants to do the same.

“I told him the same thing I told our residents,” Lurie said at a Thursday afternoon news conference to address his call with the president. ”San Francisco is on the rise. Visitors are coming back, buildings are getting leased and purchased, and workers are coming back to the office.”

Lurie said he told Trump that he welcomes the city’s “continued partnership” with the Drug Enforcement Agency and other federal authorities to get illegal narcotics off the streets and contribute to San Francisco’s falling crime rates. Fentanyl has been a major scourge on the city’s streets.

“But having the military and militarized immigration enforcement in our city will hinder our recovery,” Lurie said.

City reacts with praise and skepticism

Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a San Francisco Democrat, praised Lurie on social media, saying that he “has demonstrated exceptional leadership.” Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors head coach, called him an “absolute superstar” responsible for the good things happening in San Francisco.

The office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a former San Francisco mayor, said on X that, “Trump, has finally, for once, listened to reason.” Newsom, for his part, has repeatedly sparred with Trump, particularly after Trump deployed the California National Guard to Los Angeles against Newsom’s wishes.

But others are skeptical that Trump will keep his word. Indeed, Trump said he was giving Lurie “a chance” to turn things around and said the federal government could “take criminals out” much faster.

“We cannot trust Trump,” said San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, a progressive who runs politically left of Lurie but has a good working relationship with the mayor.

San Francisco Supervisor Jackie Fielder, who is also more politically liberal than Lurie, said in a statement that she disagrees with Lurie’s desire to coordinate more with federal law enforcement, saying that “is a dangerous invitation to a fascist administration.”

CEOs make an appeal

Trump said he received “four or five calls” from business leaders urging him not to send federal force and to let city leaders continue to work on reducing crime.

“They’re the biggest people in the world, a lot of the high tech,” he said at the White House. “They want to do it. And I said, ‘I am so honored to let you do it. And if it doesn’t work out, we’ll do it for you very quickly.’”

Benioff of Salesforce, who also owns Time magazine, told the New York Times earlier this month that he’d welcome Guard troops to help quell crime ahead of his major annual business conference. He quickly face backlash and then apologized, saying the troops weren’t needed. He confirmed to The Associated Press that he spoke to Trump but did not provide more details. Nvidia declined to comment.

In announcing his decision to back off a surge, Trump did not mention other cities in the Bay Area, including Oakland, where he has also threatened to send in federal troops.

Some other Democrats who have also taken a less combative approach to Trump have avoided his focus as he deploys Guard troops around the country. He has not, for example, focused on Detroit despite criticism of the city. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has tried to engage with Trump including with White House visits.

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Associated Press journalist Mike Liedtke contributed.