Marc Benioff, the co-founder and CEO of Salesforce, has recently clarified his previous comments regarding public safety in San Francisco, specifically his suggestion that the National Guard be deployed to patrol the city. Following significant backlash, Benioff stated on social media platform X, “Having listened closely to my fellow San Franciscans and our local officials, and after the largest and safest Dreamforce in our history, I do not believe the National Guard is needed to address safety in San Francisco.” He expressed remorse over the concern his earlier statements caused, emphasizing that his initial comment stemmed from a place of caution related to the recent Dreamforce conference.
In an interview with The New York Times last week, Benioff had initially backed President Trump’s threats to send National Guard troops to cities led by Democratic mayors, citing his worries over public safety costs tied to the major tech event. During that discussion, he surprised many with his pro-Trump rhetoric, stating, “I fully support the president,” and complimenting Trump’s performance. This stance has placed him at odds with traditionally liberal supporters, leading to a significant backlash from long-time allies.
The backlash materialized swiftly, with prominent venture capitalist Ron Conway resigning from the board of the Salesforce Foundation after expressing his disillusionment with Benioff’s comments. In an email, Conway reportedly conveyed, “I now barely recognize the person I have so long admired.”
Further repercussions followed Benioff’s remarks, including the cancellation of a scheduled event featuring himself and San Francisco Mayor Dan Lurie, which organizers described as being affected by the rain.
State Senator Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, publicly expressed relief at Benioff’s retraction, stating, “I’m grateful that Marc walked back his call for the National Guard to be deployed in San Francisco. Marc has done so many good things for our city — and supported so many civic needs — and I’m glad to see this shift.”
While past instances of National Guard deployment in various cities, including Washington, D.C. and Chicago, have raised concerns, the suggestion for their presence in San Francisco sparked a particularly intense debate, especially within the context of local politics and public safety.
