As Salesforce hosts tens of thousands of visitors in San Francisco for its annual Dreamforce conference, CEO Marc Benioff has unexpectedly become part of a heated national debate—this time over public safety and the use of federal troops.

In an interview with The New York Times published Friday, Benioff appeared to express support for President Donald Trump’s consideration of deploying the National Guard to cities run by Democratic leaders, including San Francisco. His remarks came amid ongoing controversy surrounding similar deployments to Portland and Chicago, which triggered widespread protests and legal challenges.

“We don’t have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I’m all for it,” Benioff told the paper.

His comments quickly drew criticism. By Sunday, Benioff attempted to clarify his stance on X (formerly Twitter), writing that public safety “is first and foremost the responsibility of our city and state leaders.” Yet the debate had already gone viral online, drawing in other high-profile figures.

Among them was Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who left California for Texas but remains deeply invested in the Bay Area through his companies. Musk argued that federal intervention is now the “only solution” to San Francisco’s growing crime problem, claiming that “nothing else has or will work.” The billionaire also described the city’s downtown as a “drug zombie apocalypse,” a statement that generated both support and backlash.

Despite his relocation, Musk still operates major ventures in the region. His AI startup xAI maintains offices in San Francisco, while Neuralink recently leased a large facility in South San Francisco. Tesla’s engineering headquarters also remain in nearby Palo Alto.

Musk’s comments were in response to posts by Tom Wolf, a self-described “formerly homeless recovering addict” and advocate for addiction recovery in San Francisco. Wolf argued that federal troops would be unnecessary if the city successfully dismantled organized drug networks. “Remove the organized drug dealers and 80% of the problem goes away,” he wrote. Musk shared the post with his 227 million followers on X, amplifying the discussion.

Neither Benioff nor Musk responded to requests for comment from reporters. CNBC also reached out to Salesforce, Tesla, and xAI but received no immediate reply.

City officials, however, were quick to push back. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins strongly opposed the idea of bringing in federal forces, stating on X, “I can’t be silent any longer.” She accused Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of using public safety and immigration enforcement as “government-sponsored violence against U.S. citizens, families, and ethnic groups,” adding that she would hold anyone who crosses legal boundaries accountable.

Mayor Daniel Lurie, who recently defeated incumbent London Breed after campaigning on a promise to clean up the city, highlighted positive trends in public safety. “Crime is down 30% and tent encampments are at an all-time low,” Lurie posted, emphasizing that San Francisco is ready to welcome visitors for Dreamforce, Fleet Week, and other major events. “San Francisco is on the rise,” he wrote.

In his later remarks, Benioff praised Lurie’s efforts to boost police recruitment and strengthen the city’s law enforcement.

Dreamforce, founded in 2003, officially begins Tuesday and runs through Thursday at the Moscone Center, occupying much of downtown San Francisco. The annual event draws tech leaders, entrepreneurs, and developers from around the world.

Even as Benioff attempted to refocus on the conference, prominent tech figures continued weighing in. Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan argued that “We don’t need the National Guard,” while redirecting criticism toward San Francisco’s judicial system. Tan noted that former District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who was recalled in 2022 over claims of leniency toward violent offenders, is no longer in office—yet the city’s judges, he said, have now become part of the ongoing problem.