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Executive Reversal Following Internal Pressure
Salesforce chief executive Marc Benioff has publicly retracted his support for former President Donald Trump‘s proposal to deploy military troops to San Francisco, according to reports. The reversal follows significant employee backlash and the resignation of a key figure from the company’s philanthropic foundation board.
Benioff stated on Friday that he no longer believed National Guard soldiers were “needed to address safety” in San Francisco following the successful completion of the company’s annual Dreamforce conference. This marked a sharp departure from his comments last week to The New York Times, where he had endorsed Trump’s plan and praised the former president’s performance.
Political Shift Sparks Controversy
The Salesforce CEO, previously known as a prominent Democratic supporter, had told the NYT that Trump “should send in troops to curb crime” in the city and that he “fully supports” the former president. Sources indicate these comments created immediate friction within the company and the broader San Francisco community.
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Benioff addressed the controversy in a social media post, stating: “My earlier comment came from an abundance of caution around the [Dreamforce] event, and I sincerely apologise for the concern it caused. [I] am fully committed to a safer, stronger San Francisco.”
High-Profile Resignation and Employee Backlash
The situation escalated when Ron Conway, often called the “godfather of Silicon Valley” for his early investments in companies including Google and PayPal, resigned from the Salesforce Foundation board after more than a decade of service. According to people familiar with the matter, Conway expressed concern about Benioff’s remarks in his resignation letter.
Additionally, a group of more than 100 people claiming to be Salesforce alumni, customers, and employees signed an open letter threatening to reveal details about the company’s dealings unless Benioff retracted his statement. The letter stated they would “use every tool available to us… to ensure the public understands the gap between Salesforce’s stated values and your actions.”
Broader Silicon Valley Political Landscape
Analysts suggest Benioff’s initial comments reflect a broader trend of prominent technology leaders showing support for Trump since his election victory last year. Reports indicate that Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman were among executives who donated to Trump’s 2025 inaugural fund earlier this year.
The controversy overshadowed Salesforce’s flagship Dreamforce conference, which typically attracts approximately 50,000 attendees. Benioff reportedly hired 200 off-duty law enforcement officers to patrol the event, reflecting ongoing concerns about security and related innovations in large gatherings.
Corporate Response and Industry Context
In a statement addressing Conway’s departure, Salesforce expressed “deep gratitude for Ron Conway and his incredible contributions to the Salesforce Foundation board for over a decade,” noting that globally, “the company has given more than $840mn” through its philanthropic initiatives.
The incident highlights the increasing challenges technology executives face when navigating political statements amid market trends and evolving workplace dynamics. Similar tensions have emerged in other sectors, including educational institutions where political positions have created internal conflicts.
As the technology sector continues to navigate complex political landscapes, industry observers suggest that corporate leaders are increasingly cautious about public statements that might alienate employees or stakeholders amid broader industry developments.
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