In a striking turn from his historically liberal public posture, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff publicly announced his support for President Trump and urged that National Guard troops be deployed to patrol San Francisco, setting off fierce backlash from city officials in a traditionally left-leaning stronghold. In a wide-ranging interview conducted aboard his private jet, Benioff contended that the city lacks sufficient police forces—saying, “We don’t have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I’m all for it”—and framed his remarks as part of a broader alignment with Trump. The comments sparked warnings from San Francisco’s DA Brooke Jenkins, who pledged legal pushback if federal forces overstep, and denouncements from State Senator Scott Wiener and others labeling the idea “illegal military occupation.” Meanwhile, Elon Musk voiced support for Benioff’s position, calling such federal intervention “the only solution,” even as local leaders countered that crime is down “nearly 30%” under current administration efforts.
Sources: San Francisco Chronicle, TechCrunch
Key Takeaways
– Benioff’s call for National Guard deployment marks a dramatic political repositioning that clashes with his prior image as a liberal San Francisco benefactor.
– San Francisco’s political leaders swiftly rejected his proposal, citing legal constraints and asserting that current policing strategies are already producing lower crime rates.
– Tech-industry support for stricter federal interventions is gaining voices (e.g. Elon Musk), raising questions about shifting alliances between Silicon Valley elites and national politics.
In-Depth
Marc Benioff’s public shift this week is as dramatic as it is jarring. Once closely associated with San Francisco’s liberal establishment and generous philanthropic investments, he’s now placing himself firmly in the pro-Trump camp—going so far as to propose that the National Guard be sent into his own city to aid law enforcement. His rationale: the city’s police are stretched thin, and in his view, federal troops could step in as “cops” if needed. But that argument collides with constitutional restrictions—most notably the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally prohibits the use of federal troops in domestic policing roles—and with the political and legal instincts of San Francisco’s leaders.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins was among the first to respond, warning that any misuse of power will be met with legal consequences. She put it bluntly: federal troops must not be allowed to illegally harass or violate civil rights. Meanwhile, State Senator Scott Wiener called the idea an “illegal military occupation,” and local supervisors spoke of feeling betrayed by one of the city’s biggest public names. The mayor, Daniel Lurie, chose a more cautious tone—praising local safety initiatives and noting gains in police staffing efforts rather than engaging directly with Benioff’s suggestion. NBC Bay Area reported the mayor’s office saying crime is down nearly 30 percent and that San Francisco is seeing net gains in law enforcement personnel.
Yet, Benioff’s statement doesn’t exist in an ideological vacuum. It comes amid a visible shift among certain tech figures toward more overt alignment with conservative politics and federal power. Elon Musk quickly endorsed the move, declaring it “the only solution” given San Francisco’s struggles with homelessness and drug overdose deaths. For those who feel frustrated with perceived inaction at city and state levels, the idea of federal intervention can seem appealing—even if it’s legally fraught.
From a political strategy perspective, Benioff’s remarks raise larger questions: Is this a bid for greater influence with a future Trump administration? Is it about safeguarding his flagship Dreamforce conference and the city’s business climate? Or is it a deeply personal repositioning, informed by frustration with local approaches to crime and disorder? In any case, the response has been swift—and not just from Democrats. Even those generally sympathetic to stricter public safety policies have balked at breaching constitutional guardrails or endorsing what many view as federal overreach.
For now, the proposal remains rhetorical—but the shockwaves in San Francisco’s political ecosystem are real. The episode reveals how even long-established civic leaders are not immune from pressure to choose sides in an era where law enforcement, federal power, and local autonomy all collide.