Salesforce CEO Benioff Apologizes for National Guard Comments

San Francisco, California — Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff apologized on Friday for comments he made suggesting that the National Guard could help address safety issues in San Francisco, where his company is headquartered. In a post on X, Benioff stated, “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.”

This statement came after he had indicated in a New York Times interview last week that he would welcome federal troops in the city. He expressed, “We don’t have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I’m all for it.” His remarks sparked a backlash from local politicians, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, who emphasized that federal troops were not welcome in the city.

Prominent San Francisco startup investor Ron Conway communicated his dissatisfaction with Benioff’s views, stating via email that their “values were no longer aligned.” Benioff has been supportive of Democratic candidates in the past, while Conway is a significant donor to the Democratic Party.

Venture capitalist David Sacks, a friend of Benioff, publicly invited him to reconsider his political affiliations, saying in a message, “Dear Marc, if the Democrats don’t want you, we would be happy for you to join our team.”

Following the negative response, Benioff tried to clarify his position by saying that safety is primarily the responsibility of city and state leaders. He acknowledged that his earlier comment was made out of caution surrounding the recent Dreamforce event that attracted over 50,000 attendees to the city.

Despite Benioff’s concerns about safety, crime rates in San Francisco have shown a decline this year, according to data from the police department. Benioff had intended to hire off-duty officers for the annual Salesforce event to enhance security.

In his recent apology, Benioff reiterated, “My earlier comment came from an abundance of caution around the event, and I sincerely apologize for the concern it caused. It’s my firm belief that our city makes the most progress when we all work together in a spirit of partnership.”