Trump dispatches National Guard to Memphis, describing it as a repetition of his approach during the Washington crackdown
In a move aimed at addressing rising crime rates, President Donald Trump has signed an order to send the National Guard into Memphis, Tennessee. The announcement was made with Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in the Oval Office.
The deployment, according to the president, is a "replica" of the efforts he made in Washington last month. Trump's push in Memphis will involve officials from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Marshall's service.
However, Mayor Paul Young of Memphis stated that he did not ask for the National Guard deployment and does not believe it is the way to drive down crime. Despite the White House's claims, Memphis police reported decreases across every major crime category in the first eight months of 2025 compared to previous years. In fact, overall crime hit a 25-year low, while murder hit a six-year low, according to Memphis police.
Despite these statistics, Trump hinted that other cities, such as St. Louis, could be next for intervention. He mentioned that "we're going to be doing Chicago probably next." Trump's proposed intervention in Chicago and other cities has faced opposition from local officials. For instance, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other local officials have opposed the federal intervention in Chicago.
Trump did not provide specific details about the cost of the National Guard deployment in Memphis. Tennessee's governor, Bill Lee, embraced the troop deployment as part of a broader law enforcement surge in Memphis. The city has dealt with stubborn gun violence problems for years.
In 2023, Memphis set a record with more than 390 homicides. Trump's announcement comes as he continues to target cities with high crime rates, despite facing opposition. The president seemed undeterred by the opposition in Chicago. Trump said that "Chicago is a great city," and plans to make it great again soon.
Despite the controversy, the National Guard deployment in Memphis marks a significant move by the Trump administration to address crime in American cities. The impact of this deployment remains to be seen.
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