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Behind Benioff’s Call for National Guard Troops

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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff speaks during Salesforce's Dreamforce on September 17, 2024 in San Francisco, California. Some 45,000 workers in the tech industry were expected to attend the annual Dreamforce event, which runs through September 19. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff was once revered for his philanthropy and progressive politics. But last week, he sparked outrage after saying he supports President Donald Trump sending National Guard troops to San Francisco.

Soon after, reporting revealed that Salesforce had lobbied to help the federal government hire more immigration agents. City leaders like Mayor Daniel Lurie and tech figures including Benioff’s longtime friend Ron Conway condemned his comments, prompting Benioff to apologize. But questions remain about his relationship with Trump and what it means for San Francisco politics.

Marisa and Scott are joined by New York Times San Francisco bureau chief Heather Knight, who broke the story and is tracking the fallout.

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