Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
President Donald Trump announced Friday he will deploy National Guard troops to Memphis, Tenn., saying the move is part of his broader effort to replicate the results of a heavy federal presence he ordered in Washington, D.C.
“We’re going to fix that, just like we did in Washington,” Trump told hosts on Fox & Friends. He said the crackdown could include federal law-enforcement agents, the National Guard and “the military, too,” if necessary.
Trump told the program that local officials had signaled support for the deployment. “The mayor is happy. He’s a Democrat mayor… And the governor, Tennessee, the governor is happy,” Trump said.
Gov. Bill Lee (R) confirmed he would speak with the White House to “work out the details,” while Memphis Mayor Paul Young (D) acknowledged the Guard will be sent but said he had not requested it and needed more information on timing, scope and mission.
Mayor Young also pointed to city crime statistics showing recent declines: earlier data cited by city officials indicated a nearly 44% drop in reported crime incidents through Sept. 11, 2025, compared with the same period in 2024, and a roughly 30% decline in homicides.
Critics have repeatedly accused Trump of using federal forces as a political cudgel, noting he has threatened deployments mostly to Democratic-run cities such as Chicago, Baltimore and New York. Opponents argue such federal action risks constitutional and public-safety problems; supporters say it provides needed resources to combat violent crime.
The president has repeatedly touted the Washington deployment as a model for reducing crime and has signaled plans to expand similar operations to other cities if governors and mayors approve. Local officials and civil-rights groups have frequently pushed back, citing concerns about militarization, civil liberties and long-term effectiveness.
