Today's Edition
Washington (AFP)
Donald Trump threatened to send troops to San Francisco, in an interview that aired on Sunday, as he looks to push the US military into more Democratic-controlled cities.
The comments come as the president has already sent National Guard into Los Angeles, Washington and Memphis often against the wishes of local leaders, and as judges have halted their deployment in Chicago and Portland.
"Next we're going to go to San Francisco," he told Fox News.
"The difference is, I think they want us in San Francisco. San Francisco was truly one of the great cities of the world. And then 15 years ago, it went wrong.
"We're going to go to San Francisco and we're going to make it great."
Trump has repeatedly exaggerated the extent of crime and unrest in US cities to justify ordering deployments that have largely been opposed by local Democratic leaders.
He suggested late last month that American cities be used as "training grounds" for the country's military forces.
The first deployment to Los Angeles, in June, came after sometimes unruly protests over widespread immigration raids.
That deployment was roundly criticized by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who frequently butts heads with the Republican billionaire.
Trump's comments on San Francisco come after Marc Benioff, the boss of San Francisco-based tech giant Salesforce apologized after calling for the National Guard to be sent to the city.
His support for a military intervention in San Francisco sparked fury and a public backlash that saw former friends distance themselves from him.
