Key Takeaways
- Ron Conway resigns from Salesforce Foundation board over values misalignment
- Conway sent angry email criticizing Benioff’s support for Trump’s National Guard deployment
- The venture capitalist cited concerns about ICE raids and federal troop deployment
- 25-year friendship between the two Silicon Valley figures ends abruptly
Prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist Ron Conway has resigned from the Salesforce Foundation board following CEO Marc Benioff’s controversial support for President Trump’s proposed National Guard deployment in San Francisco. The resignation ends a 25-year friendship between the two influential figures.
In a strongly-worded email obtained by The New York Times, Conway expressed his disappointment with Benioff’s stance, stating their values were “no longer aligned.” Conway stepped down on Thursday, October 16 from the foundation that managed approximately $400 million in assets.
The Breaking Point Email
“It saddens me immensely to say that with your recent comments, and failure to understand their impact, I now barely recognize the person I have so long admired,”
Conway wrote in his email to Benioff. He expressed being “shocked and disappointed” by Benioff’s comments supporting what he called “an unwanted invasion of San Francisco by federal troops.”
“I have expressed candidly to you, repeatedly, in recent days, that I am shocked and disappointed by your comments calling for an unwanted invasion of San Francisco by federal troops,” Conway wrote, “and by your willful ignorance and detachment from the impacts of the ICE immigration raids of families with NO criminal record.”
Background of the Controversy
The conflict began when Benioff told The New York Times he fully supported Trump’s proposal to send National Guard troops to San Francisco to address crime concerns. The billionaire executive, previously known for progressive views, faced immediate backlash from city leaders.
Conway specifically criticized Benioff for commenting on San Francisco issues “where you don’t even live or vote.” Benioff currently resides on Hawaii’s Big Island, where he owns multiple properties and maintains voter registration.
Political Context and Broader Support
President Trump indicated Wednesday that San Francisco could be next for federal troop deployment, praising the “great support” for the idea—potentially referencing backing from both Benioff and Elon Musk.
Dreamforce Relocation Threats
Conway also addressed Benioff’s repeated threats to move Salesforce’s annual Dreamforce conference to Las Vegas over safety concerns.
“Your obsession with and constant annual threats to move Dreamforce to Las Vegas is ironic, since it is a fact that Las Vegas has a higher rate of violent crime than San Francisco,” Conway wrote. “San Francisco does not need a federal invasion because you don’t like paying for extra security for Dreamforce.”
The resignation marks a significant rupture in Silicon Valley relationships, highlighting deep divisions over political stance and corporate responsibility in the tech community.
