San Francisco opposes ‘authoritarian crackdown’ as Trump threatens to send troops

President pushes hyperbolic claims of out-of-control crime as city leaders say no need for Trump's personal army'

Donald Trump suggested Wednesday that San Francisco could be the next city he targets with federal troops, threatening a deployment that local and state officials have said is unnecessary and unwelcome.

Speaking at the White House to FBI director Kash Patel, the president said: I'm going to be strongly recommending, at the request of government officials ... that you start looking at San Francisco ... one of our great cities 10 years ago, 15 years ago, and now it's a mess ... Every American deserves to live in a community where they're not afraid of being mugged, murdered, robbed, raped, assaulted or shot."