Liberal billionaire Marc Benioff’s public plea for President Trump to deploy the National Guard in San Francisco has shattered political expectations and exposed the city’s deepening crisis of public order.
Story Snapshot
- Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, known for liberal activism, now urges Trump to send the National Guard to San Francisco for public safety at Dreamforce 2025.
- Benioff’s dramatic shift signals growing tech industry concerns over rampant crime and the city’s inability to maintain law and order.
- Mayor Daniel Lurie’s administration claims crime is down, but event organizers are funding hundreds of extra police as confidence in local leadership falters.
- The incident underscores a broader realignment: business leaders are increasingly backing federal intervention as local “woke” policies unravel.
Benioff Breaks with Liberal Ranks, Appeals to Trump
Marc Benioff, long regarded as a pillar of progressive causes in the Bay Area, stunned political observers by calling on President Trump to deploy the National Guard to San Francisco. This request, made ahead of the high-profile Dreamforce 2025 convention, represents a remarkable reversal from Benioff’s previous policy stances. His decision reflects mounting dissatisfaction among business leaders over persistent crime, open drug use, and the perceived ineffectiveness of local government to guarantee public safety during globally watched events.
Tech billionaire Mark Benioff calls for Trump to send National Guard to San Francisco: ‘I fully support the president’ https://t.co/zbKWRnIlR3 pic.twitter.com/cpV4ui8bnW
— New York Post (@nypost) October 12, 2025
Benioff’s move comes after he personally funded 200 off-duty police officers for Dreamforce, signaling a lack of faith in city leadership’s ability to protect attendees. His public statement—“We don’t have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I’m all for it”—was a direct appeal for federal intervention after years of progressive governance failed to address quality-of-life concerns. This unprecedented outreach to Trump marks a new era of pragmatic alliances, as even liberal elites now prioritize safety and economic stability over ideology.
Watch: Benioff says he’d support National Guard in San Francisco | KTVU
City Hall Defends Record as Federal Pressure Mounts
San Francisco’s Democratic mayor, Daniel Lurie, responded to Benioff’s plea by touting recent gains in crime reduction and police hiring. Lurie’s office asserted that “crime is down nearly 30% citywide and at its lowest point in decades.” Yet, this optimism was not enough to quell growing anxiety among business owners and residents facing daily reminders of lawlessness. The city’s police department remains understaffed, and ongoing reports of public disorder have fueled calls for external intervention—a development unimaginable just a few years ago in this deep-blue stronghold.
Tech Industry’s Pragmatic Shift and New Federal Alliances
Benioff’s appeal is symptomatic of a larger shift within the tech sector, where business leaders are moving beyond ideological divides to engage directly with the Trump administration on security and public safety. Analysts emphasize that tech’s embrace of federal intervention, once unthinkable, is gaining momentum as the industry recalibrates its relationship with power in Washington.
Investigative reports highlight a growing alliance between tech giants and the Trump administration, particularly around issues of security and public order. Some observers caution, however, about the risks of militarizing urban spaces and eroding local autonomy. The debate has national implications, as other cities and industries watch closely to see if federal intervention becomes the new norm in managing urban crises.
Sources:
Marc Benioff, tech billionaire, wants National Guard deployed to San Francisco
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