For years, Marc Benioff has stood out as one of San Francisco’s most prominent liberal-leaning billionaires—a figure who not only built his reputation as a visionary technology executive but also as a civic-minded philanthropist deeply intertwined with the city’s social conscience. Known primarily as the founder and driving force behind Salesforce, Benioff consistently used his wealth and influence to champion progressive causes: he poured millions into initiatives supporting the city’s homeless population, made generous donations to improve the public education system, and actively hosted fundraising events in support of prominent Democratic politicians such as Hillary Clinton. These efforts helped cement his image as a business leader who viewed his corporate success as inseparable from a moral obligation to uplift the community around him.
However, in an unexpected and wide-ranging interview conducted by phone from his private jet with *The New York Times*, Benioff revealed a striking and somewhat bewildering political shift—one that, according to observers, seemed to even catch his own communications team by surprise. Despite the fact that Salesforce maintains hundreds of contractual relationships with various branches of the federal government, Benioff expressed an open and enthusiastic endorsement of President Donald Trump, marking a dramatic departure from his previous political stance. Speaking with unrestrained admiration, Benioff declared that he “fully supported” Trump’s leadership and went as far as to advocate for the deployment of National Guard troops to patrol the streets of San Francisco, which he portrayed as in dire need of stronger law enforcement presence.
His comments grew even more effusive as he described his personal encounter with the president during a state dinner held at Windsor Castle. Sitting directly across from Trump, Benioff reportedly told him how profoundly grateful he was for what he described as the president’s accomplishments and leadership. This unexpected praise extended to Benioff’s approval of Elon Musk’s initiatives aimed at increasing government efficiency—efforts that he regarded as emblematic of a new, results-driven approach to public administration. Yet, despite his confidence in Trump’s leadership, Benioff also admitted that he had not been closely following the more controversial aspects of the administration, such as the contentious immigration raids or the president’s repeated verbal attacks on the media.
The conversation, which reportedly lasted nearly fifty minutes, came to an abrupt close when Benioff seemed to notice the uncomfortable expression on the face of his public relations executive. Turning to her mid-discussion, he asked, with a hint of bemusement, whether his comments on politics had gone too far. “What about the political questions?” he asked audibly. “Too spicy?” The exchange captured a rare moment of self-awareness amid a conversation that otherwise revealed a profound and public ideological evolution.
Benioff’s transformation appears to mirror a broader recalibration taking place across Silicon Valley, where many long-assumed liberal figures are quietly adjusting their positions in response to shifting political realities and the economic pragmatism of dealing with Washington. Yet this particular interview stood out for its candor and the extent to which it exposed the possible direction of that shift. It raised a provocative question for the region’s powerful corporate community: if one of the Bay Area’s most emblematic tech leaders can pivot so dramatically, could others soon follow in his wake? And if so, will the next chorus of influential executives also begin calling for federal troops to patrol their own streets, signaling a deeper transformation in how Silicon Valley views its relationship with civic governance, public safety, and the balance between private enterprise and democratic authority?
Sourse: https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/10/salesforce-ceo-says-national-guard-should-patrol-san-francisco-stunning-his-own-pr-team/
