Marc Benioff, the Salesforce CEO and co-founder, seems to be retracting his previous statements advocating for the National Guard to be stationed in San Francisco.
“After listening carefully to my fellow residents and city leaders, and following the most successful and secure Dreamforce event we've ever hosted, I no longer think deploying the National Guard is necessary for San Francisco’s safety,” Benioff shared in a message on X. “My earlier remarks were made out of an excess of caution regarding the event, and I truly regret any worry they may have caused.”
Last week, Benioff sparked debate after an interview with The New York Times, where he voiced support for President Donald Trump’s proposal to send National Guard troops to San Francisco and other Democrat-led cities.
Benioff’s remarks appeared to be motivated by his worries over public safety expenses at the large-scale Dreamforce conference held in San Francisco last week. The billionaire, who has previously leaned liberal, also used the interview to praise Trump, stating at one point, “I completely back the president,” and describing Trump as “doing an excellent job.” (Reportedly, at the end of the conversation, he asked his stunned PR representative, “Was that too much?”)
Although Benioff’s endorsement of Trump seems to reflect a broader conservative shift among tech leaders, his suggestion to bring the National Guard to San Francisco was swiftly met with criticism from long-time supporters and Democratic officials. Prominent venture capitalist Ron Conway resigned from the Salesforce Foundation board, allegedly emailing Benioff, “I hardly recognize the person I’ve admired for so long.”
A planned event featuring Benioff and San Francisco Mayor Dan Lurie was also called off, with organizers attributing the cancellation to rain.
State Senator Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, told Politico, “I appreciate that Marc has reconsidered his call for the National Guard in San Francisco. Marc has contributed greatly to our city and supported many community needs, so I welcome this change.”
Trump has previously sent the National Guard to cities such as Washington, DC and Chicago, though a judge has so far prevented him from doing so in Portland. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, has repeatedly referred to these actions as an “invasion” of his state.
