Marc Benioff Apologizes for National Guard Remarks on SF Safety

BREAKING: Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has issued a public apology after retracting his support for President Donald Trump‘s controversial proposal to deploy the National Guard in San Francisco. The statement, released on October 13, 2023, follows intense backlash and discussions with local leaders and residents.

In a post on X, Benioff declared, “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 emphasized that his initial support stemmed from “an abundance of caution” surrounding public safety concerns.

Benioff’s earlier comments, made during an October 10 interview with the New York Times, had ignited significant criticism within Silicon Valley. He had cited a shortage of police officers—approximately 1,000—and stated that Salesforce had to hire 200 additional officers for event security, implying that military support could help curb rising crime rates.

The backlash escalated when angel investor Ron Conway resigned from the board of the Salesforce Foundation in response to Benioff’s remarks. Additionally, Laurene Powell Jobs openly criticized him in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, suggesting that he was using his wealth to exert political influence.

Legal challenges have hampered Trump’s troop deployments in cities like Chicago and Portland. However, he has already sent troops to locations including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Memphis. His proposal to send troops to San Francisco, made in August, was part of a broader critique of Democratic leadership regarding the city’s safety conditions.

Benioff’s apology marks a significant turnaround in his stance and highlights the growing tensions surrounding public safety in urban areas. As the situation develops, stakeholders in San Francisco and beyond will be watching closely to see how local leaders respond to both the safety concerns and the corporate implications of Benioff’s remarks.

What happens next remains uncertain, but the impact of this apology on Salesforce’s relationships within the community and the tech industry will be closely scrutinized. For those interested in corporate governance and community relations, this incident is a critical moment to follow.

Stay tuned for further updates as this story unfolds.