Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff apologizes for saying National Guard troops are needed in San Francisco

Salesforce co-founder and CEO Marc Benioff appears to be walking back comments calling for the National Guard to patrol San Francisco.

“After listening closely to my fellow San Franciscans and our local officials, and after the largest and safest Dreamforce in our history, I do not believe there is a need for the National Guard to address safety in San Francisco,” Benioff said. In a post on X. “My previous comment was made out of an abundance of caution regarding the event, and I sincerely apologize for the concern I caused.”

Benioff sparked controversy last week after giving it Interview with The New York Times In it He announced his support for President Donald Trump’s threats To deploy National Guard troops in San Francisco and other cities led by Democratic politicians.

While Benioff’s comments were apparently prompted by his concerns about public safety costs at the company’s massive Dreamforce conference in San Francisco last week, the formerly liberal-leaning billionaire also used the interview to embrace Trump, at one point saying: “I fully support the president,” adding that Trump is “doing a great job.” (At the end of the interview, he reportedly asked the shocked PR person: “So hot?”)

Although Benioff’s pro-Trump stance seems to be in line with that A greater shift to the right among technology executivesHis call for the National Guard to come to San Francisco quickly drew backlash from longtime allies and Democratic politicians. Popular VC Ron Conway has stepped down from the Salesforce Foundation’s board of directors Conway reportedly told Benioff in an email“I now barely recognize the person I admired for so long.”

An event in which Benioff and San Francisco Mayor Dan Lury were scheduled to participate was also canceled due to rain.

State Senator Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, Politico said“I’m grateful that Mark has backed away from his call to deploy the National Guard to San Francisco. Mark has done so many good things for our city — supporting so many civic needs — and I’m glad to see this turnaround.”

Trump did The National Guard has already been deployed in other cities including Washington, D.C. and Chicago, while a judge has so far blocked his attempts to do the same in Portland. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, has repeatedly said this Description of this As an “invasion” of his country.