Marc Benioff, Salesforce CEO, โissued an apology on October 17, 2025, for commentsโ he made regarding the potential use of the National Guardโ to address homelessness in San Francisco. The apology followed widespread criticism from city officials โadn advocacy groups who deemedโฃ his suggestions inappropriate andโ possibly harmful.
Benioff’sโค remarks, made during a Dreamforce conference panel discussion, sparked controversy as San Francisco grapples with a visible โขhomelessness โฃcrisis and ongoing debates about effective solutions. Theโค proposal to involve the National Guard raised concerns about โขmilitarizing responses โto a socialโ issueโค and potentiallyโค infringing on โขthe rights of unhoused individuals. Thisโค incident underscores the complex โคchallenges facing San Francisco and other majorโฃ cities in addressing homelessness, and highlights the sensitivity surrounding potential interventions. The situation is likely to fuel further debate about the role of government, โฃprivate โsector involvement,โ and the appropriate strategies forโ providing support and shelter โto those experiencing homelessness.
During the panel,โ Benioff โreportedly suggested exploring whetherโค theโ National Guard couldโ be โutilized to assist with providing services and shelter to the city’sโฃ homeless population. He later clarified his intention was to brainstorm all possible solutions, but acknowledged โขthe comments were poorlyโข received.
“I was trying to provoke a conversationโ about all options,and I realize now that suggesting theโ National Guardโ was โthe wrong thing to do,” Benioff stated in a postโฃ onโ X (formerly Twitter) on October 17,2025. “I apologizeโฃ for the pain andโค frustration it caused.”
San Francisco Mayor Londonโ Breedโค publicly rebuked Benioff’s suggestion, stating that the city โwould not consider using the National Guard to address homelessness.โ Several โadvocacy organizations also โcondemned the idea, emphasizing โthe need for compassionate โand supportive โservices rather than a law enforcement or military approach.