Salesforce’s Marc Benioff apologizes for saying – Business News
Salesforce Chief Executive Marc Benioff publicly apologized Friday for suggesting President Trump ought to ship National Guard troops to San Francisco, saying his earlier remarks “came from an abundance of caution” and that he no longer believes federal intervention is needed to make sure public security.
“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,” Benioff wrote on X.
“My earlier comment came from an abundance of caution around the event, and I sincerely apologize for the concern it caused.”
Salesforce Chief Executive Marc Benioff publicly apologized Friday for suggesting President Trump ought to ship National Guard troops to San Francisco. Bloomberg by way of Getty Images
The billionaire philanthropist and longtime Democratic mega-donor, 61, added that San Francisco “makes the most progress when we all work together in a spirit of partnership.”
Benioff thanked Mayor Daniel Lurie, the San Francisco Police Department and metropolis officers for serving to make sure the success of Dreamforce, Salesforce’s annual technology convention that drew roughly 50,000 guests this week.
Benioff’s remarks mark an effort to calm tensions which have mounted since his interview with the New York Times final week, during which he mentioned he supported Trump’s concept of deploying the National Guard to San Francisco to help combat crime.
“We don’t have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I’m all for it,” he instructed the paper.
The billionaire tech mogul instructed the New York Times final week that he would assist a transfer by Trump to ship National Guard troops to San Francisco. REUTERS
The feedback have been met with sturdy criticism from metropolis leaders and longtime allies within the tech and philanthropic communities. Lurie and District Attorney Brooke Jenkins rejected the thought, noting that crime in San Francisco has fallen to a 70-year low.
“To see tear gas and all the things that are happening — we don’t want that chaos here,” Jenkins mentioned earlier within the week.
Having listened carefully to my fellow San Franciscans and our native officers, and after the most important and most secure Dreamforce in our historical past, I don’t consider the National Guard is needed to deal with security in San Francisco. My earlier remark got here from an abundance of warning round… pic.twitter.com/7TRdTu7hdq— Marc Benioff (@Benioff) October 17, 2025
The fallout continued via the Dreamforce convention.
Prominent enterprise capitalist Ron Conway, a main Democratic donor and early backer of corporations together with Google and Airbnb, resigned from the board of the Salesforce Foundation, writing in an electronic mail that he “barely recognize[s] the person I have so long admired.”
Two scheduled Dreamforce performers, comedians Kumail Nanjiani and Ilana Glazer, additionally dropped out of the occasion. While Salesforce attributed the cancellations to sickness, each entertainers have beforehand criticized Trump’s insurance policies and rhetoric.
Local leaders in San Francisco took umbrage on the suggestion that National Guard troops have been needed to fight crime. Anadolu by way of Getty Images
Benioff later introduced in comic David Spade to close the convention.
The controversy prompted broader reflection amongst San Francisco’s business and philanthropic circles.
Laurene Powell Jobs, founder of the Emerson Collective and widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, criticized Benioff’s latest feedback in an essay revealed Friday within the Wall Street Journal, writing that “giving that expects control is anything but generous.”
Powell Jobs cited feedback by Benioff touting his charitable donations to town, during which he mentioned: “If there is anyone who’s doing more for the local community, I want their name, because I’m very competitive.”
Benioff mentioned he supported bringing within the National Guard out of “an abundance of caution” in gentle of the Dreamforce convention that occurred within the metropolis this previous week. AP
“The message beneath that comment was unmistakable: In his eyes, generosity is an auction — and policy is the prize awarded to the highest bidder,” Powell Jobs wrote within the Journal.
The Post has sought remark from Benioff.
Despite the criticism, Salesforce introduced this week that it plans to invest $15 billion in San Francisco over 5 years to advance artificial intelligence initiatives.
Benioff, who has alternated between describing himself as an impartial and a reasonable Republican, has long been one of town’s most distinguished business figures and donors, serving to fund hospitals, faculties and homeless companies.
Benioff mentioned in his Friday post that he stays “fully committed to a safer, stronger San Francisco.”
