Marc Benioff, chief executive officer of Salesforce, speaks during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 18, 2024.
Halil Sagirkaya | Anadolu | Getty Images
As Salesforce welcomes attendees to its annual Dreamforce conference in San Francisco, CEO Marc Benioff has ignited a local controversy with national implications, wading into the debate around federal intervention in urban areas.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Benioff expressed openness to President Trump deploying federal troops to San Francisco, a stance that positions him in the midst of a highly charged national discussion concerning the role of federal law enforcement in cities struggling with crime and social issues.
This comes after the Trump administration’s recent deployment of the National Guard to cities like Portland and Chicago, moves that sparked considerable backlash and legal challenges.
“We don’t have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I’m all for it,” Benioff stated in the interview. While he later clarified his remarks on X, emphasizing the primary responsibility of city and state leaders for public safety, the initial comments had already fueled a contentious online dialogue.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has also weighed in, advocating for federal intervention in San Francisco. In posts on his social media platform X, Musk asserted that it would be “the only solution at this point,” characterizing the city’s downtown area as a “drug zombie apocalypse.” These comments come amid broader discussions about urban decay and the effectiveness of local governance.
Despite relocating Tesla’s headquarters to Texas, Musk retains significant business interests in the Bay Area, including xAI and Neuralink, underscoring the region’s enduring importance in the tech landscape. His views carry weight within the business community and add another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate about San Francisco’s future.
Musk’s advocacy for federal intervention was prompted by social media posts from Tom Wolf, who identifies as a recovering addict and advocate for addiction recovery in San Francisco.
“If you want to keep federal troops out of San Francisco, remove the organized drug dealers and 80% of the problem goes away,” Wolf stated his post to his social media.
The reactions from local officials have been sharp and critical. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins denounced the idea of federal troops, accusing the Trump administration of weaponizing public safety and immigration enforcement against communities. Mayor Daniel Lurie, who ran on a platform of revitalizing the city, countered that crime is down and tent encampments are at an all-time low, underscoring his administration’s commitment to improving public safety.
Benioff’s subsequent clarification of his comments included praise for Mayor Lurie’s efforts to bolster law enforcement. This apparent effort to strike a more moderate tone reflects the delicate balancing act required of business leaders navigating complex political and social issues.
Dreamforce is expected to draw tens of thousands of attendees to the Moscone Center and surrounding areas, providing a significant economic boost to the city. As the event unfolds, the debate surrounding San Francisco’s challenges and potential solutions is likely to continue.
Garry Tan, CEO of Y Combinator, also weighed in on X, stating “We do not need the National Guard.” But his sentiments reflected the views that progressive policies and local officials have contributed to the problems in San Francisco.
The current controversy illuminates the profound challenges facing San Francisco and the divergent perspectives on how to address them. It also highlights the increasing involvement of tech leaders in local and national political discussions, reflecting their growing influence on society.
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