San Francisco – Salesforce chief executive Marc Benioff has apologised for suggesting that he would support the deployment of federal troops to San Francisco, after facing widespread criticism from local officials, business leaders and political allies.
In a post on social media platform X on Friday, Benioff said he had reconsidered his earlier stance after listening to local residents and officials.
“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 wrote.
The apology came days after The New York Times quoted Benioff as saying he would be “all for” federal troops being sent to the city, where Salesforce is headquartered. “We don’t have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I’m all for it,” Benioff told the paper.
Backlash from local leaders
His remarks prompted strong backlash from California Governor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco city leaders, who said federal intervention was neither necessary nor welcome. Officials noted that crime rates in the city have been declining, and described Benioff’s comments as “out of touch” with ongoing efforts to improve safety.
The controversy unfolded as the Trump administration recently sent National Guard troops to cities including Portland and Chicago, drawing public outcry and legal challenges over alleged unlawful detentions.
Fallout within Salesforce community
The comments also triggered internal and external fallout. Prominent Silicon Valley investor Ron Conway, an early supporter of Salesforce and board member of the Salesforce Foundation, resigned on Thursday.
According to reports, Conway told Benioff in an email that their “values were no longer aligned.”
Conway, a well-known Democratic donor who supported Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign, cited discomfort over Benioff’s remarks in his decision to step down.
Meanwhile, David Sacks, a venture capitalist who has become a close ally of Trump and Elon Musk, responded to the controversy by inviting Benioff to “join our team,” claiming the Republican Party had become the “inclusive party.”
Marc Benioff walks back comments
Benioff, one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent executives and a self-described centrist who has previously supported Democratic presidential candidates, sought to clarify that his earlier comment was made “out of an abundance of caution” ahead of Dreamforce, Salesforce’s annual conference.
“My earlier comment came from an abundance of caution around the event, and I sincerely apologise for the concern it caused,” he wrote. “It’s my firm belief that our city makes the most progress when we all work together in a spirit of partnership.”
The apology came as political debate over crime, homelessness and public safety in San Francisco continues to divide city leaders and the tech community.
Entrepreneurs such as Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan criticised Benioff’s suggestion but also blamed local officials for what he called weak enforcement and lenient policies.
Musk, who has frequently attacked San Francisco’s governance, called the city a “drug zombie apocalypse,” while former president Trump described it as “a mess.”
Benioff’s reversal marks an attempt to distance himself from the political fallout, as Salesforce continues to be one of the city’s largest employers and a major contributor to its civic image.
