San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie was praised for his quiet diplomacy after President Donald Trump announced he would call off a surge of federal law enforcement in the city. The move marked a significant departure from Trump’s usual approach, which often involves confrontational tactics towards big cities like San Francisco.
Lurie’s strategy of focusing on public safety statistics and avoiding partisan rhetoric seems to have paid off. He had enlisted the support of prominent tech CEOs, including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Salesforce’s Marc Benioff, who persuaded Trump to stand down. The city’s post-pandemic recovery, improving crime rates, and efforts to tackle a fentanyl-addiction crisis also appeared to be key factors in Trump’s decision.
Lurie’s approach has been validated by some Democrats, including San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, who praised the mayor for walking a “tightrope” between cooperation and confrontation. Meanwhile, some California Democrats have expressed skepticism about Lurie’s offer to partner with federal agencies on fentanyl operations, fearing it could open the door to cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Trump himself left the door open for greater federal intervention if he doesn’t see enough progress, suggesting that San Francisco could address its problems faster with federal agents on the ground. However, Lurie’s team has maintained that their approach is a step towards finding common ground with Trump and avoiding further confrontation. The outcome of this episode remains uncertain, leaving some to wonder whether Lurie’s strategy will be sustainable in the long term.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/23/why-trump-spared-san-francisco-00621294