San Francisco DA fires back after Salesforce CEO suggests Trump send National Guard to city
"I've become more enraged, quite frankly, at what I've been seeing happen."
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins responded Friday to Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff.
Jenkins is pushing back against Benioff's comments to The New York Times in an interview published ahead of his annual Dreamforce conference.
In that interview, the tech billionaire claims he'd support President Trump in a decision to send the national guard into San Francisco.
RELATED: Marc Benioff backs National Guard troops in San Francisco: report
Benioff saying, "We don't have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I'm all for it."
Before our sit-down interview, Jenkins responded on X, writing she could no longer stay silent about immigration enforcement and national guard deployments.
The DA vowed that if federal law enforcement were to be sent to San Francisco, she would not hesitate to hold them accountable if they broke the law.
"We don't need your help here. San Francisco's crime rates have been dropping for the last three years. We are at historic lows in many categories," Jenkins said.
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Jenkins' fiery response is in contrast to the way some other city leaders have tried to deal with Washington.
Mayor Lurie has taken a cautious approach when it comes to the Trump administration and often times remained silent on many issues.
It's a tactic that's gotten him a lot of criticism from some in the city.
Jenkins says she doesn't necessarily disagree with the mayor's approach and tells ABC7 News their working relationship remains strong. However, she feels compelled to speak out and stand up for people she believes can't do so themselves.
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"I've got San Franciscans every day walking around scared. Too fearful to drop their kids off at school, to go to work, to let their kids play sports because they don't know what's to come," Jenkins said.
But how much power would Jenkins have if the National Guard were to be sent into San Francisco?
We asked Margaret Russell, a constitutional law professor at Santa Clara University.
"As I understand her remarks, she is asserting, claiming, not giving up the power that those in Chicago and Portland and other cities have not given up. Which is to maintain control and law and order over local governments," Russell said.
MORE: Pres. Trump threatens to send military troops to 'straighten out' SF, other Democratic-run cities
Jenkins says she's aware her statements could be risky and draw the attention of the president.
And as for Benioff, she left us with this message.
"To invite chaos into our city. No, Mr. Benioff needs to know that that's not the solution. And I want the president to know we don't want his version of law and order," said Jenkins.
ABC7 News did reach out to the mayor's office for comment Friday evening but did not hear back.
