After a weeklong media storm, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff on Friday apologized for comments he made last week supporting sending National Guard troops to San Francisco.
Conway, who has donated millions of dollars to moderate Democratic candidates in San Francisco elections, said in his resignation email that recent comments from the Salesforce CEO led to his decision, according to The New York Times.
Trump, this year, has deployed the National Guard to Democratic strongholds like Portland, Oregon, and Chicago.
Benioff later said he was supporting public safety in San Francisco and wants to see an increase in policing.
The National Guard cannot carry out local law enforcement duties, however.
Marc Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce, issued an apology on Friday following a week-long media frenzy for remarks he made last week endorsing the deployment of National Guard troops.
“After the biggest and safest Dreamforce in our history, and after listening carefully to my fellow San Franciscans and our local officials, I do not believe the National Guard is needed to address safety in San Francisco,” Benioff wrote in a post on the social media site X.
The apology was made a day after venture capitalist Ron Conway declared that, after almost ten years, he would be leaving the board of Salesforce’s charitable division.
In his email of resignation, Conway, who has contributed millions of dollars to moderate Democratic candidates in San Francisco elections, stated that his decision was prompted by recent remarks made by the Salesforce CEO, as reported by The New York Times.
“In recent days, I have repeatedly and honestly told you that I am shocked and disappointed by your remarks advocating for an unwelcome federal troop invasion of San Francisco,” he wrote in the email, “as well as by your deliberate ignorance and disengagement from the effects of the ICE immigration raids on families with no criminal history.”. “.”.
Benioff had previously called for San Francisco to “refund” the police department and told the New York Times that he supported President Donald Trump and would support his efforts to send the National Guard to the city.
This year, Trump has sent the National Guard to places that are popular with Democrats, such as Chicago and Portland.
Even though the city of San Francisco had a significant budget deficit this year that resulted in cuts to other city agencies, the department’s budget has increased and the department is still several hundred officers short of its recommended staffing levels.
In response to Benioff’s remarks, city officials quickly pointed out that, over the past year, crime has dropped by almost 30% throughout the city.
When questioned about Benioff’s remarks at a press conference on Tuesday, Mayor Daniel Lurie, who has avoided criticizing Trump directly, defended the city’s police force.
Lurie remarked, “I have faith in our local law enforcement.”. “We will not give up on ensuring the safety of San Franciscans, visitors, and convention attendees.”. “.”.
Trump stated that San Francisco is on his list of cities that federal law enforcement should target “next” hours after the conference. “”.
Federal troops already stationed in places like Chicago are still “spiraling out of control,” District Attorney Brooke Jenkins told reporters. “.”.
Numerous local police shooting cases have been largely dismissed by Jenkins. Nonetheless, the DA declared that she would “hold any law enforcement officer accountable, including ICE and anyone else, if they cross the bounds of the law, which includes using excessive force, harassing tactics, anything that I believe crosses the line.”. “.”.
Speaking to reporters this week, Attorney General Rob Bonta also stated that he would take any National Guard deployment to San Francisco to court. When Trump dispatched troops to Los Angeles during protests against the rise in Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and arrests this summer, a judge declared in September that he had broken the law. The Trump Administration has been sued by other states, including Illinois and Oregon, for sending people to big cities without permission.
On Sunday, Lurie spoke with Benioff following the viral success of his interview with the Times. As the company’s premier technology conference, Dreamforce, was held downtown in the coming days, the Salesforce CEO made an effort to elucidate some of his remarks.
Benioff subsequently stated that he was in favor of increased policing and public safety in San Francisco. Nonetheless, the National Guard is not permitted to perform local law enforcement functions. For large events like Dreamforce, which attract thousands of people, it is also typical for businesses to temporarily hire more security.
Benioff gave a more straightforward message on Friday.
“I truly apologize for the concern it caused, and my earlier comment was the result of excessive caution surrounding the event,” Benioff said. It is my strong conviction that when we all collaborate in a spirit of partnership, our city advances the most. “”.
Benioff, who was formerly regarded as one of the more progressive tech executives, did not retract his support for Trump after he apologized.
