by: Abby Coven

Local Editor

Marc Benioff, chief executive officer of the technology company Salesforce, called for President Trump to deploy National Guard troops in San Francisco, only to retract his comments a week later. Benioff was previously known for supporting Hillary Clinton for president, donating to Kamala Harris’s campaign, and advocating for a tax increase to fund services for unhoused individuals. President Trump has been sending National Guard troops into large, mainly Democratic cities as a way to crack down on the supposed crime. In June, the president sent troops into Los Angeles under the pretext of keeping people safe from city-wide protests against mass deportations. Benioff’s initial call for troops reflects a recent trend among tech leaders toward greater support for President Trump. 

Benioff made his comments the week before Dreamforce, Salesforce’s popular annual convening in San Francisco that draws thousands of tech workers and community leaders. He told the NY times, “We don’t have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I’m all for it.” In response, San Francisco mayor Daniel Lurie said crime rates were down 30% across the city, and Governor Newsom said California’s homicide rate is the second lowest since 1966. Critics accused Benioff of being self-serving, citing his expressed concerns about the conference’s safety while not thinking about the broader impact of his position. Benioff hasn’t lived in San Francisco since 2021, when he moved to Hawaii, according to reports. Many remember that even during the times when he was more outwardly progressive, Salesforce still had contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the Obama and Biden administrations.

Benioff’s comments drew intense backlash. Stand-up comedians and actors Ilana Glazer and Kumail Nanjiani, featured speakers at the conference, both backed out as a form of protest against Benioff. On top of that, Ron Conway, Benioff’s close friend for over 25 years and a well-known Silicon Valley venture capitalist, resigned from the board of Salesforce’s charitable foundation to protest Benioff’s position.

After the conference, Benioff posted on X that he regretted comments he made in support of President Trump sending the National Guard to San Francisco. Benioff said he no longer believed troops were needed “to address safety” in the city. Even though his apology helped ease some of the controversy, his words had already drawn the president’s attention. Recently, President Trump deployed National Guard troops to Chicago and Portland. After Benioff’s comments, however, Trump claimed in a recent interview that “the difference is I think they want us in San Francisco.” He did this in response to some groups and Benioff’s requests. For now Benioff’s change of heart helped to de-escalate actions of the president.  

(Sources: CNBC, NYT, SFGate.)