On Friday, President Donald Trump announced his intention to send National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, as part of a broader strategy to combat rising crime rates. During an interview on Fox & Friends, Trump expressed his desire to replicate the outcomes achieved during the National Guard's deployment in Washington, D.C. He described Memphis as "deeply troubled" and vowed to implement measures that would address the city's crime issues, stating, "We're going to fix that, just like we did in Washington."
In his remarks, Trump suggested that the crime crackdown in Memphis could involve not only National Guard units but also federal forces and potentially the military if deemed necessary. "And anybody else we need," Trump added, indicating a comprehensive approach to tackling crime in the city. He emphasized that local leaders across the country should seek federal assistance, noting he has received support from officials in Tennessee.
"The mayor is happy. He's a Democrat mayor, the mayor is happy. And the governor, Tennessee, the governor is happy," Trump stated, highlighting the bipartisan support for his initiative. Republican Governor Bill Lee confirmed that he would be discussing the deployment details with Trump. In a post on X, Lee expressed gratitude for the President's commitment to providing necessary resources to serve the residents of Memphis, stating, "I look forward to working with local officials and law enforcement to continue delivering results."
During a news conference on Friday afternoon, Memphis Mayor Paul Young acknowledged the planned deployment of the National Guard but clarified that he had not requested it. Young sought more information regarding the specifics of the Guard's deployment, asking questions such as, "When will they come? How many people are gonna come? How long will they be here? What are they going to wear?"
The mayor also pointed out that the city has seen a significant drop in crime over the past year. As of September 11, 2025, there have been 29,978 reported crime incidents in Memphis, reflecting a roughly 44% decrease from the same period in 2024, when there were 53,805 reported incidents. Notably, the number of homicides in the city has dropped nearly 30% this year, with 182 reported incidents compared to 261 during the same timeframe last year.
Trump's recent comments come amid a nationwide push to address crime, including a federal law enforcement surge in Washington, D.C. However, prior to the President's intervention, D.C. had already experienced a two-year decline in crime rates, according to police data. As of Friday, D.C. reported 17,806 crime incidents so far this year, marking an 8% decrease from 19,501 incidents during the same period last year.
In a press conference following the expiration of the federal surge in D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser reaffirmed the city's commitment to collaborating with federal law enforcement. "We have a long history of working with federal law enforcement, and we're going to continue to partner in ways that make sense for D.C. safety," Bowser stated.
Despite the support from some local leaders, critics have raised concerns about Trump's focus on deploying federal troops in cities governed by Democratic mayors. Recently, Trump threatened to send National Guard troops to Chicago due to its high crime rate, leading to strong opposition from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson. Pritzker expressed his disapproval on X, saying, "I want to help people, not hurt them," in response to Trump's threats of military intervention.
Trump responded to concerns about Chicago, asserting, "You're about to lose Chicago. I can fix Chicago, much bigger than D.C., but we can bring in the military. We can bring in the National Guard. We'll do what we have to do." This statement underscores the ongoing debate about the role of federal intervention in local crime issues.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on Memphis to see how the National Guard's deployment impacts the city's crime rates and community safety.
