Marc Benioff has long been recognized as San Francisco’s progressive billionaire, a tech leader known for supporting homeless initiatives, contributing to local public schools, and organizing fundraisers for Hillary Clinton.
However, during a recent, extensive phone conversation with the New York Times while aboard his private jet, Benioff disclosed a political shift that appeared to catch even his own communications staff off guard, despite Salesforce maintaining numerous federal contracts.
The Salesforce CEO announced his “complete support” for President Trump and expressed that he believed National Guard forces should be deployed throughout San Francisco. He enthusiastically recounted sharing a table with Trump at a Windsor Castle state banquet, where he told the president, “I appreciate all that you’re doing.” He also commended Elon Musk’s efforts to streamline government operations and admitted he hadn’t paid much attention to stories about immigration raids or Trump’s criticisms of the press.
According to reports, the 50-minute interview concluded when Benioff glanced at his public relations chief, seemingly reacting to her facial expression. “What about the political questions?” he asked aloud. “Is that too controversial?”
While Benioff’s new stance reflects a broader trend among Silicon Valley leaders adapting to Trump, the conversation provided an unusual look at just how far this realignment might go. The lingering question: will other tech executives in the Bay Area echo Benioff’s call for federal troops in their own communities?
