Benioff Apologizes for Supporting the Proposed Deployment of the National Guard in San Francisco

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff issued a public apology last Friday following a comment he made heading into this year’s annual Dreamforce conference.

As reported in The New York Times, Benioff showed support for President Donald Trump’s recent idea to send National Guard troops into San Francisco – which has led to significant backlash across the Salesforce ecosystem, as well as the wider tech community.

What Happened?

In an Oval Office gathering in August, President Trump referred to potential plans to send several National Guard troops to San Francisco as he looks to “clean” up Democratic-led cities across the US.

In a press Q&A on the opening day of Dreamforce, Benioff responded to a question about his comments concerning the National Guard, emphasizing his prioritization of safety.

“I want to make sure you have a safe experience here [
] we have brought in over 200 of our own police to make sure that everyone who attends Dreamforce has a good experience.”

For Benioff, who has always been a strong advocate for the city of San Francisco, as well as a regular financial contributor, these recent remarks came as a shock to many.

In his New York Times interview, Benioff shared his support for Trump and agreed with the proposed deployment of the National Guard. He stated that it could help reduce crime throughout the city, saying: “We don’t have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I’m all for it.”

Following this, Benioff has received widespread blowback for his comments – ranging from Salesforce community members to politicians and other leaders.

Ahead of this year’s Dreamforce event, comedians Ilana Glazer and Kumail Nanjiani – who were both scheduled to perform – withdrew due to “unforeseen circumstances”. Though there will be inevitable speculation, it is not clear whether this withdrawal is related to Benioff’s comments.

Moreover, Benioff was dealt public rebukes from several Democratic politicians, with California Governor Gavin Newsom taking to X to strongly reject Trump’s initiative, describing it as a “breathtaking abuse of power”.

In the days that followed, an open letter titled Dear Marc Benioff circulated online, gathering thousands of signatures from Salesforce employees and alumni, as well as San Francisco residents. The letter urged Benioff to “fully and unequivocally retract” his endorsement of National Guard involvement and recommit Salesforce to “community-based, non-violent safety solutions”.

“Salesforce was built on empowering communities – not deploying the National Guard into them,” the letter stated. “Walking back your words doesn’t undo the damage.”

The authors accused Benioff of contradicting his own record of activism, referencing his 2015 boycott of Indiana over discriminatory legislation and his support of Proposition C – a business tax to fund homeless services in San Francisco.

On Friday, Benioff posted an apology on X, saying his comments were “poorly worded” and did not reflect his belief in local community solutions.

Still, critics remain unsatisfied. The Dear Marc Benioff organizers said they plan to continue collecting signatures until Salesforce makes a firm public commitment to supporting local, non-policing initiatives.

Final Thoughts

The controversy cast a shadow over Dreamforce 2025 – what has traditionally been a celebration of innovation, community, and philanthropy in Benioff’s home city. 

This year, however, the spotlight has turned on the company’s founder himself, with his ‘newfound’ political stance called into question.

The post Benioff Apologizes for Supporting the Proposed Deployment of the National Guard in San Francisco appeared first on Salesforce Ben.

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