Marc Benioff, the co-founder and CEO of Salesforce, has apologised after suggesting that Donald Trump should send the US National Guard into San Francisco. The remark, made last week, drew sharp criticism and prompted a board member to resign, according to the New York Times.
Benioff, a prominent figure in Democratic circles and the city's largest private employer, initially argued that federal troops could assist with policing duties. The comments divided tech leaders: Tesla CEO Elon Musk supported them, while David Sacks, a major Trump donor and AI czar, argued a 'targeted operation' could clean up the city.
In an apology on Friday, Benioff said he had 'listened closely to my fellow San Franciscans and our local officials' and no longer believed the National Guard was needed. He cited security concerns for Salesforce's Dreamforce conference as the motivation for his original statement.
The resignation of the board member underscores the fallout. Trump, meanwhile, appeared to address Benioff directly on Monday, claiming 'unquestioned power' to send troops to San Francisco despite local opposition.
