Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff apologises for backing Trump’s call to send troops to San Francisco

Marc Benioff

Salesforce chief executive Marc Benioff on Friday apologised for comments supporting President Donald Trump’s potential move to deploy federal troops in San Francisco. In a post on X, Benioff said he no longer believed the National Guard was needed and expressed regret for his earlier remarks.

“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.

The apology followed growing criticism after The New York Times quoted Benioff as saying he would support troops being sent to the city. “We don’t have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I’m all for it,” he had told the paper ahead of Dreamforce, Salesforce’s flagship event held in downtown San Francisco this week.

Local leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco officials, swiftly rejected the idea, saying the city’s crime rate was improving and that federal troops were not welcome. Prominent Silicon Valley investor Ron Conway resigned from the Salesforce Foundation’s board, citing differences in values with Benioff.

The controversy comes after the Trump administration recently deployed the National Guard to cities including Portland and Chicago, moves that drew protests and legal challenges.

Addressing the backlash, Benioff said, “My earlier comment came from an abundance of caution around the event, and I sincerely apologise 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.”