Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, a high-profile Democrat donor, has walked back his comments supporting President Donald Trump’s potential deployment of the National Guard to San Francisco. After facing swift backlash from leftist activists, political allies, and tech elites, Benioff issued a public apology Friday to distance himself from the idea.
Benioff originally floated the proposal during an interview with The New York Times, citing ongoing safety concerns in downtown San Francisco. His remarks aligned with recent federal actions under the Trump administration, which sent National Guard troops to cities like Portland and Chicago to address crime and civil unrest.
However, Democratic leaders in California quickly condemned the idea. Governor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco officials held press conferences insisting that federal troops are not welcome, arguing that crime is already on the decline. The political fallout escalated when Silicon Valley investor Ron Conway resigned from the board of the Salesforce Foundation, saying Benioff’s comments no longer aligned with his values.
Conway, a major supporter of Kamala Harris and longtime Democratic fundraiser, has donated heavily to progressive campaigns. His public break with Benioff highlighted growing divisions within the Democratic donor class as urban crime becomes a flashpoint issue.
Facing mounting criticism, Benioff attempted to clarify his remarks on social media. “I do not believe the National Guard is needed to address safety in San Francisco,” he wrote. He claimed his initial statement came out of “an abundance of caution” related to Dreamforce, Salesforce’s major tech conference held in the city.
Despite his reversal, Benioff’s comments sparked interest from conservatives. David Sacks, Trump’s adviser on AI and cryptocurrency, publicly invited Benioff to join the Republican Party, describing the GOP as the “inclusive party” rejecting cancel culture. Elon Musk, a frequent critic of California’s leadership, also amplified the incident, referring to San Francisco as a “drug zombie apocalypse.”
President Trump, responding to the news, reaffirmed that San Francisco remains in “a mess” and reiterated the possible use of the National Guard if local leadership fails to restore order.
Benioff, who previously backed Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Kamala Harris, now faces skepticism from both sides of the political aisle. His apology reflects the pressure major donors face when deviating from progressive orthodoxy — especially in cities struggling with public safety and political accountability.
