Story perspectives

Benioff Walks Back Trump Support Amid Safety Backlash

10/13/2025

Summary

Story summary

Marc Benioff, Salesforce CEO, initially supported President Donald Trump's proposal to deploy the National Guard in San Francisco.
He cited a police shortage and plans to hire 1,000 off-duty officers for Dreamforce.
Backlash from local officials prompted Benioff to say public safety should be managed locally.
Elon Musk echoed safety concerns, calling San Francisco a "drug zombie apocalypse."
Dreamforce is expected to bring significant economic benefits to San Francisco.

History

Historical Context

In 2017, President Donald Trump proposed deploying the National Guard to cities like San Francisco to address a 10% rise in violent crime reported in 2016. This initiative reflects a historical tension between local governance and federal intervention in public safety, echoing past conflicts over the National Guard's role in civil unrest, such as during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

1 of 2

Story summary

Marc Benioff, Salesforce CEO, initially supported President Donald Trump's proposal to deploy the National Guard in San Francisco.
He cited a police shortage and plans to hire 1,000 off-duty officers for Dreamforce.
Backlash from local officials prompted Benioff to say public safety should be managed locally.
Elon Musk echoed safety concerns, calling San Francisco a "drug zombie apocalypse."
Dreamforce is expected to bring significant economic benefits to San Francisco.

1 / 2