Democrats were taken aback when Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce and a well-known Democratic supporter, expressed his belief that President Donald Trump is performing admirably and suggested that the National Guard be dispatched to San Francisco.
A number of Democrats are against the idea of deploying the National Guard to cities plagued by crime or those that have experienced protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or federal facilities.
In an interview with the New York Times, Benioff’s surprising statement drew a positive reaction from White House crypto advisor David Sachs.
According to the New York Times, during a gathering in the Oval Office back in August, the president mentioned he was thinking about sending federal troops to San Francisco, listing other Democratic-led cities he felt had been “destroyed” and stating his intention to “clean it up there, too.”
Benioff expressed his support for this suggestion, believing that the National Guard could help mitigate crime in the area.
“I fully support the president,” he affirmed. “I think he’s doing a great job.”
His comments ignited outrage among Democrats. According to Politico, Benioff’s backing of Trump and the proposed National Guard deployment undermines his extensive history of donations and support for Democratic issues, even as other tech leaders lean towards Trump.
“This is a slap in the face to San Francisco,” remarked Matt Dorsey, a member of the city’s Board of Supervisors.
State Senator Scott Weiner criticized the idea, stating, “Inviting President Trump to send the National Guard here is not a good thing. Quite the opposite. We do not need or want an illegal military occupation of San Francisco.”
San Francisco has faced ongoing challenges with crime, open drug use, and homelessness, despite previous assurances from then-Mayor Gavin Newsom, who is now the Governor, to tackle these issues.
Benioff has been vocal about seeking civic improvements in a city that has seen a shift in political attitudes, from far-left to more moderate liberal views.
