In a surprising turn of events, President Trump revealed that tech industry leaders Marc Benioff and Jensen Huang played pivotal roles in persuading him to change his plan of deploying National Guard troops to San Francisco. The decision was announced on Trump’s social network Truth Social, where he credited Benioff and Huang for influencing his change of heart.
Mayor Daniel Lurie later confirmed that the military operation was called off, although specific details of the conversations between the tech leaders and the President were not disclosed. Benioff’s involvement, especially considering his previous stance on National Guard patrols in the city, highlighted the significant impact tech influencers can have on political decisions.
Earlier, Benioff had expressed support for sending troops to San Francisco but later retracted his statement, emphasizing the city’s safety after a successful tech conference. This shift in stance underscores the dynamic nature of public opinion and the power of influential figures like Benioff within the tech community.
With Mayor Lurie set to speak at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, there is anticipation for further insights into how the city, a hub of the AI industry, has navigated safety concerns and collaborated to de-escalate tensions.
Source: TechCrunch