Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff’s ICE Joke Draws Criticism

Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, ignited controversy after making jokes referencing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a company-wide kickoff event in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred on February 10, 2026, has sparked significant outrage among Salesforce employees, raising questions about the company’s values and commitment to equality.

During his keynote address, broadcast to thousands of Salesforce staffers, Benioff reportedly asked employees who had traveled from abroad to stand up. Following this, he made a joke about the presence of ICE agents in the room, according to an anonymous tipster who spoke with Gazetteer SF. The joke was met with faint boos from the audience.

Benioff later revisited the topic, making another joke about ICE while questioning how many employees hadn’t yet utilized the company’s Slackbot tools. This was followed by a comment about Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance, which employees also found to be out of touch.

Employee Reactions and Concerns

The jokes were widely condemned by Salesforce employees, with many expressing disappointment and concern. One employee, in an internal Slack message viewed by Gazetteer SF, stated, “It’s hard to believe this company still has values when you make completely off-base jokes about ICE in your opening keynote. That’s unacceptable.” The comment garnered nearly 800 emoji reactions in support.

Other employees described the jokes as “tone-deaf and quite cruel,” arguing they contradicted Salesforce’s stated culture of equality. Concerns were raised about the impact on employees and their families who may feel unsafe, with some even suggesting a walkout in protest.

Benioff’s Recent Political Shifts

This incident comes amidst a period of perceived political shifts from Benioff. In a recent interview with the New York Times, he expressed support for former President Donald Trump, a statement he later apologized for on X (formerly Twitter) after suggesting the deployment of the National Guard to San Francisco. This history adds another layer of complexity to the current controversy.

Gazetteer SF has reached out to Benioff for comment and will update this story as more information becomes available.

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