Trump says Jensen Huang, Marc Benioff convinced him not to send feds to SF

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that he was persuaded by “great people like Jensen Huang, Marc Benioff, and others” to give San Francisco’s new mayor, Daniel Lurie, a chance to address the city’s problems before any federal intervention.

“Great people like Jensen Huang, Marc Benioff, and others have called saying that the future of San Francisco is great,” Trump posted. “They want to give it a ‘shot.’ Therefore, we will not surge San Francisco on Saturday. Stay tuned!”

The statement marks a reversal from Trump’s earlier threats to deploy federal law enforcement to the city, citing crime, homelessness, and drug use. His decision follows weeks of heated debate among local and national leaders, as well as growing pressure from Silicon Valley’s elite.

Benioff’s Public U-Turn

Benioff, who initially supported Trump’s proposal to send in the National Guard, faced backlash from other business leaders and residents. After interviews with The New York Times and The San Francisco Standard, he issued an apology, saying he “sincerely apologized” for the concern his comments caused.

Benioff later joined others in urging the president to give Mayor Lurie’s administration time to show progress. The Salesforce CEO, long a vocal advocate for civic renewal in San Francisco, reportedly played a key role in organizing outreach to the White House.

Huang Quietly Steps In

Unlike Benioff, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had not spoken publicly about the issue before Trump’s announcement. However, sources close to the administration say Huang personally reached out to discuss the economic importance of stability in San Francisco, where Nvidia has been expanding its presence.

Huang, who owns a $38 million home in Presidio Heights, has recently doubled down on San Francisco, acquiring new office space for Nvidia and contributing funds to help rescue the California College of the Arts.

His behind-the-scenes involvement reflects his growing political influence in Washington, especially after negotiating a deal that allows Nvidia to continue exporting chips to China despite U.S. trade restrictions.

Representatives for Nvidia declined to comment on Huang’s role in the discussions.

Local Leaders Weigh In

Trump’s reversal was met with cautious optimism by city leaders and business figures. Many had argued that sending in federal officers would exacerbate tensions and undermine local governance.

Former U.S. Ambassador Trevor Traina, a member of a prominent San Francisco family, appeared on Fox News earlier this week to suggest federal intervention was unnecessary.

“The voters in San Francisco picked leaders to fix these problems,” Traina said. “And they deserve the chance to do so.”

What’s Next for San Francisco

Trump’s decision not to “surge” the city buys time for Mayor Lurie, who took office promising to address crime, housing, and public safety without external intervention.

Still, the president’s post ended with a warning — “Stay tuned!” — suggesting the issue may not be settled permanently.

For now, however, San Francisco’s fate rests in local hands — and with the unexpected alliance of tech billionaires who convinced Trump to stand down.

A direct call from Jensen Huang and Marc Benioff appears to have changed President Trump’s mind on federal intervention in San Francisco.
The episode highlights the political clout of Silicon Valley’s top executives, who are now not only shaping technology policy in Washington — but increasingly influencing how America’s most famous president governs their hometown.