By Erie365NewsWriter 
Donald Trump confirmed Friday that he will deploy the National Guard to Memphis to address the city’s rising crime levels. Speaking on “Fox & Friends,” Trump said that both Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, and Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, support the move.
“Memphis is deeply troubled,” Trump stated. “The mayor is happy, the governor is happy. We’re going to fix it like we fixed Washington.”
The president’s plan is part of his broader second-term strategy to combat urban crime using military personnel. Trump previously sent over 2,200 troops to Washington, D.C., where he also federalized the city’s police department. In his view, Memphis is next in line.
Mixed Reactions from Tennessee Leaders
While Trump insists that city and state officials are on board, responses from local leaders tell a more nuanced story. Mayor Paul Young issued a statement saying he is open to support but focused on solutions that align with long-term goals.
“We need financial resources for intervention and prevention,” Young said. “What we need most are additional patrol officers and case support to strengthen MPD’s investigations.”
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris voiced stronger opposition, warning that military involvement in local policing could lead to authoritarian conditions. “With the occupation of U.S. cities, we are far down this road of losing our democracy,” Harris wrote in a Facebook post.
On the other hand, Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn welcomed the National Guard Memphis deployment, applauding Trump’s tough-on-crime approach. “Time and time again, President Trump has stepped in to restore law and order,” she said.
Legal Barriers and Crime Statistics
Despite Trump’s announcement, he cannot deploy troops to Memphis without the governor’s formal request. Unlike Washington, D.C., where the National Guard reports to the president, the Tennessee Guard reports directly to Governor Lee.
Crime in Memphis remains among the highest of any major U.S. city. In 2023, it led all 40 largest cities in overall crime, violent crime, and property crime. However, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, crime in Memphis dropped 11% in early 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, showing signs of modest improvement.
Other Cities Could Be Next
Trump also mentioned that cities like Chicago, St. Louis, or New Orleans could be next for military intervention. He expressed a preference for Chicago but said local opposition would make that move more difficult.
Memphis, however, remains a focal point due to its persistently high crime rate and symbolic weight in Trump’s campaign to “Make Cities Safe Again.”
As legal and political debate unfolds, the National Guard Memphis deployment remains one of the most controversial proposals in Trump’s recent law-and-order agenda.