Board Resignation Over Political Differences
A prominent venture capital investor has resigned from the Salesforce Foundation board following controversial political comments by Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, according to reports obtained by The New York Times. Ron Conway, who had served on the philanthropic board for a decade, submitted his resignation through a strongly worded email that expressed fundamental disagreements with Benioff’s recent statements.
Value Alignment Breakdown
Sources indicate the resignation stemmed from Benioff’s public support for President Donald Trump and his advocacy for deploying National Guard troops to San Francisco, where Salesforce maintains its headquarters. Conway, described in reports as a top Democratic donor and longtime friend of Benioff, wrote in his resignation email that their values were “no longer aligned” and that he “barely recognized” the person he had admired for over 25 years.
Controversial Comments and Local Backlash
Analysts suggest Benioff’s comments have generated significant controversy in the liberal-leaning city of San Francisco. The report states that Benioff told The New York Times he supported President Trump and believed National Guard troops should be deployed to address crime concerns, despite San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie releasing statistics showing homicides at a 70-year low. Local leaders have condemned the suggestion of military deployment in the city.
Foundation Impact and Educational Focus
The Salesforce Foundation, which ended 2023 with nearly $400 million in assets according to tax filings, focuses primarily on educational initiatives. The organization reportedly distributed $36 million last year to support disadvantaged students through technology literacy programs, educator recruitment, and college preparation support. Major recipients included the San Francisco and Oakland Unified School Districts, both serving predominantly low-income student populations.
Broader Tech Industry Context
The resignation occurs amid significant industry movements, with recent reports indicating that Arm has joined the Open Compute Project to advance AI data center technology. Meanwhile, Apple’s M5 Mac lineup is reportedly taking shape for a 2026 launch, and tech giants are forming alliances to revolutionize AI data infrastructure, according to industry analysts.
Dreamforce Security Concerns
The report states that Conway specifically criticized Benioff’s “obsession with and constant annual threats” to move the Dreamforce conference to Las Vegas over safety concerns. Conway noted the irony that Las Vegas actually has higher violent crime rates than San Francisco, suggesting the city “does not need a federal invasion because you don’t like paying for extra security for Dreamforce.” Benioff is currently presiding over this year’s Dreamforce event, which attracts approximately 50,000 global attendees.
Political Ramifications
President Trump reportedly acknowledged the “great support” for deploying National Guard troops to San Francisco during a Wednesday statement, potentially referencing both Benioff and Elon Musk’s endorsements of the concept. However, legal analysts suggest that using military troops for domestic law enforcement generally faces legal restrictions, creating complex jurisdictional questions about such deployments.
Personal and Professional Rift
According to the email correspondence, Conway expressed being “shocked and disappointed” by Benioff’s comments and criticized his “willful ignorance and detachment” from impacts of ICE immigration raids. The venture capitalist also noted that Benioff no longer lives or votes in San Francisco, having relocated to Hawaii during the pandemic, which sources suggest may have influenced his perspective on local issues.
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