Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(129,635 posts)
Sat Oct 11, 2025, 07:25 PM Yesterday

Tech bro billionaire Marc Benioff says Trump should deploy National Guard to San Francisco

Marc Benioff has become the latest Silicon Valley tech leader to signal his approval of President Trump, saying that the president is doing a great job and ought to deploy the National Guard to deal with crime in San Francisco.

The Salesforce chief executive's comments came as he headed to San Francisco to host his annual Dreamforce conference — an event for which he said he had to hire hundreds of off-duty police to provide security.

“We don’t have enough cops, so if they [National Guard] can be cops, I’m all for it,” he told the New York Times from aboard his private plane.

The National Guard is generally not allowed to perform domestic law enforcement duties when federalized by the president.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/tech-billionaire-marc-benioff-says-120000976.html

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Tech bro billionaire Marc Benioff says Trump should deploy National Guard to San Francisco (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Yesterday OP
Many of these bil bros seem like the biggest fascist losers to me... wcmagumba Yesterday #1
From aboard his private plane, yeah fuck this guy Blues Heron Yesterday #2
"so if they [National Guard] can be cops, I'm all for it" pat_k Yesterday #4
The Salesforce building is regarded by nearly the entirety of The City as a blight and eyesore AZJonnie Yesterday #3

pat_k

(12,029 posts)
4. "so if they [National Guard] can be cops, I'm all for it"
Sat Oct 11, 2025, 07:40 PM
Yesterday

Small problem.

Posse comitatus bars active-duty military or federalized national guard from being used as domestic law enforcement.

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/posse-comitatus-act-explained




...What are the origins of the Posse Comitatus Act?

The Posse Comitatus Act was passed in 1878, after the end of Reconstruction and the return of white supremacists to political power in both southern states and Congress. Through the law, Congress sought to ensure that the federal military would not be used to intervene in the establishment of Jim Crow in the former Confederacy.

Despite the ignominious origins of the law itself, the broader principle that the military should not be allowed to interfere in the affairs of civilian government is a core American value. It finds expression in the Constitution’s division of power over the military between Congress and the president, and in the guarantees of the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments, which were in part reactions to abuses committed by the British army against American colonists.

Today, the Posse Comitatus Act operates as an extension of these constitutional safeguards. Moreover, there are statutory exceptions to the law that allow the president to use the military to suppress genuine rebellions and to enforce federal civil rights laws.

What does the Posse Comitatus Act say?

The Posse Comitatus Act consists of just one sentence: “Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, or the Space Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.”

In practice, this means that members of the military who are subject to the law may not participate in civilian law enforcement unless doing so is expressly authorized by a statute or the Constitution.

Are all members of the military covered by the Posse Comitatus Act?
No, only federal military personnel are covered. The Coast Guard, though part of the federal armed forces, has express statutory authority to perform law enforcement and is not bound by the Posse Comitatus Act.

Members of the National Guard are rarely covered by the Posse Comitatus Act because they usually report to their state or territory’s governor. That means they are free to participate in law enforcement if doing so is consistent with state law. However, when Guard personnel are called into federal service, or “federalized,” they become part of the federal armed forces, which means they are bound by the Posse Comitatus Act until they are returned to state control.

AZJonnie

(1,837 posts)
3. The Salesforce building is regarded by nearly the entirety of The City as a blight and eyesore
Sat Oct 11, 2025, 07:30 PM
Yesterday

The incidents of vandalism and public urination (and worse) upon that property are about to skyrocket. In fact, I'd assume the company plans to abandon it entirely in the near future, otherwise this CEO is a complete moron for saying this. It WILL be VERY poorly received by the majority of folks there, guarantee it.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Tech bro billionaire Marc...