What's happened
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff initially supported deploying the National Guard to San Francisco to address safety concerns but has since retracted his statement after facing criticism from city leaders and allies. The controversy emerged amid broader debates over federal intervention and city safety policies, with recent developments showing a shift in his stance.
What's behind the headline?
Benioff's reversal underscores the deep political and social divisions within San Francisco's tech community and local government. His initial support for federal intervention aligned with a broader trend among some tech leaders embracing more conservative policies, often at odds with city officials and long-standing allies. The backlash, including Ron Conway's resignation and the cancellation of Salesforce events, reveals the fragility of this political shift. Moving forward, Benioff's stance may influence broader debates about the role of federal forces in urban safety, especially in liberal cities. The incident highlights how high-profile corporate leaders are increasingly caught between their political beliefs and local community expectations, with potential repercussions for public safety policies and corporate reputation.
What the papers say
TechCrunch reports that Benioff's support for deploying the National Guard was met with swift criticism from city officials and allies, leading to his retraction. The NY Post highlights his initial support and subsequent backtracking, emphasizing the controversy's impact on Salesforce's reputation. Bloomberg notes the internal disagreements and the broader political context, including Trump's push for federal intervention. The articles collectively illustrate a moment of political realignment among Silicon Valley elites, with some supporting federal measures while others, like Benioff, walk back their positions amid local backlash. The coverage underscores the tension between corporate influence and local governance, with some sources suggesting this could signal a broader shift in tech leadership's political stance.
How we got here
Benioff's initial support for National Guard deployment was prompted by his concerns over public safety during the Dreamforce conference and his broader political alignment with Trump-era policies. His comments sparked backlash from city officials, allies, and Democratic politicians, leading to resignations and cancellations at Salesforce events. The controversy reflects ongoing tensions between local San Francisco leadership and prominent tech figures over safety and political alignment.
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More on these topics
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Marc Russell Benioff is an American Internet entrepreneur, with a net worth of $7.8 billion as of May 2020. He is the founder, chairman and CEO of Salesforce, an enterprise cloud computing company.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco and colloquially known as The City, SF, or Frisco and San Fran, is the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Northern California.
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Ronald Crawford Conway is an American venture capitalist and philanthropist, often described as one of Silicon Valley's "super angels". Conway is recognized as a strong networker.
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Salesforce.com, inc. is an American cloud-based software company headquartered in San Francisco, California. It provides customer relationship management service and also sells a complementary suite of enterprise applications focused on customer service,
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Daniel Lurie is an American philanthropist who is the founder and president of Tipping Point Community.
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Elon Reeve Musk FRS is an engineer, industrial designer, technology entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the founder, CEO, CTO and chief designer of SpaceX; early investor, CEO and product architect of Tesla, Inc.; founder of The Boring Company; co-foun
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Brooke Jenkins (born 1981/1982) is an American lawyer serving as the 30th District Attorney of San Francisco. On July 8, 2022, Jenkins was appointed interim district attorney by Mayor London Breed following the successful recall of Chesa Boudin, for which