**
Executive Reverses Stance After Public Outcry
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has publicly walked back his support for deploying National Guard troops to San Francisco, according to reports. The billionaire executive, who also owns Time magazine, faced intensifying backlash after initially expressing support for former President Donald Trump’s suggestion that federal troops could be sent to the California city.
In a social media post on Friday, Benioff stated that after “listening closely to my fellow San Franciscans and our local officials … I do not believe the National Guard is needed to address safety in San Francisco.” The CEO acknowledged his earlier comments “came from an abundance of caution” around his company’s major annual Dreamforce conference and offered a sincere apology “for the concern it caused.”
Initial Comments Sparked Controversy
The controversy began when Benioff expressed support for federal troop deployment in an interview with the New York Times last week. Sources indicate he stated: “We don’t have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I’m all for it.” The newspaper reported that Benioff had made clear he “avidly supported President Trump,” marking a notable shift from his previous political positions.
Analysts suggest the comments sparked particular concern because longstanding federal law widely prohibits the domestic deployment of troops for criminal law enforcement duties. The proposal also came amid broader discussions about critical staffing challenges in various public sectors.
Political Shift Raises Eyebrows
Benioff’s pro-Trump remarks represented a sharp departure from his previous support of liberal policies, according to reports. During Trump’s first administration, the Salesforce executive was outspoken about wealth inequality and supported a 2018 local ballot measure to tax large corporations in San Francisco to increase funding for homeless services.
In a Guardian interview at the time, Benioff had called out other billionaires for “hoarding” their wealth and stated that opponents of the homeless measure were choosing themselves over helping others. This background makes his recent comments supporting Donald Trump‘s proposal particularly noteworthy to political observers.
Local Leaders Push Back Against Federal Intervention
California and San Francisco leaders have uniformly rejected the idea of federal troop deployment, with the district attorney stating local leaders “have this issue under control.” According to local reports, the city’s mayor and law enforcement leaders have pointed to declining crime rates and increasing police recruitment.
California Governor Gavin Newsom responded to Trump’s characterization of San Francisco as a “mess” by noting he was the city’s mayor 15 years ago when Trump said it was “great.” Newsom highlighted that the city has seen a 45% drop in homicides and 40% decrease in robberies this year compared with 2019, according to official statistics.
Broader Context of Federal-Local Tensions
The controversy occurs amid ongoing tensions between the federal government and local authorities in various cities. The report states that Trump has repeatedly used claims about crime to justify federal crackdowns in liberal cities, which have previously attracted mass protests met with aggressive law enforcement responses.
The debate around public safety and appropriate law enforcement responses reflects broader industry developments in security technology and approaches. Meanwhile, related innovations in infrastructure management continue to evolve alongside these security discussions.
Conference Security Concerns Prompted Original Comments
Benioff explained that his original comments about supporting National Guard deployment were motivated by security concerns around Dreamforce, Salesforce’s major annual conference that took place this week. He had told the New York Times that he believed San Francisco needed 1,000 more officers added to its 1,500-size police force.
During the conference, Benioff had promised there would be “cops on every corner … how it used to be.” His full apology and explanation can be found in his social media post addressing the controversy. The situation highlights how recent technology and security considerations intersect with public policy debates.
The episode also comes amid other market trends in executive leadership and corporate social responsibility, as business leaders navigate increasingly complex political landscapes while maintaining their companies’ operations and reputations.
This article aggregates information from publicly available sources. All trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners.
Note: Featured image is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent any specific product, service, or entity mentioned in this article.
