Photo by Gordon Mak on Unsplash
Marc Benioff’s unexpected political shift leaves tech world wondering: is this the new voice of Silicon Valley leaders?
It started as a typical conversation with one of Silicon Valley’s most influential voices. Marc Benioff, the billionaire CEO of Salesforce, known for championing progressive causes and pouring millions into public services in San Francisco, was speaking with the New York Times.
But as the 50-minute interview came to a close, this wasn’t the same Benioff the tech world thought it knew.
Mid-air on his private plane, Benioff dropped a politically charged bombshell: he wants the National Guard deployed to patrol the streets of San Francisco. And he didn’t stop there. He also voiced full support for President Trump — the same Trump his industry has often clashed with.
Benioff, who has backed homeless services, adopted public schools, and hosted Hillary Clinton fundraisers, now says he’s grateful “for everything [Trump’s] doing.” He even praised Elon Musk’s push for government efficiency.
It was a moment so surprising, even his own public relations chief couldn’t hide her reaction. In fact, it seems Benioff noticed her stunned expression right as the call ended. “What about the political questions?” he asked her. “Too spicy?”
Yeah, probably.
What changed?
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From the sounds of it, Benioff seems to have gone through a major political transformation — one that even his team wasn’t expecting.
The Salesforce founder, whose company has hundreds of contracts with the federal government, didn’t offer policy detail to back his comments. But the shift reflects something bigger: a noticeable tilt in how some tech leaders are starting to engage with politics and public safety, especially around rising concerns in cities like San Francisco.
Whether you agree with him or not, it’s a clear break from the playbook most tech CEOs have followed in recent years.
Why this matters
Photo by Nini Chan on Unsplash
Benioff’s interview pulls back the curtain on conversations that may be happening behind closed doors across Silicon Valley. As Bay Area cities wrestle with growing safety concerns — some real, some sensationalized — the call for stronger federal involvement, even militarized, is bound to stir strong reactions.
If other tech execs follow suit, we could be watching a major shift in how power, politics, and public safety intersect in the cradle of U.S. innovation.
And let’s be honest, when a CEO as tied to San Francisco’s progressive heart as Benioff starts praising Trump — and asking for troops on the streets — it signals something is changing.
Fast.
Stay with us at Yugto.io as we keep an eye on how this story unfolds. These days, the people shaping your apps might also be shaping your politics.
Keywords: Salesforce, National Guard, Marc Benioff, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, tech CEOs, political transformation
