Trump Orders National Guard to Memphis; Mayor Expresses Surprise, Seeks Clarity

President Donald Trump announced yesterday, Friday, September 12, that he will deploy National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, as part of a nationwide initiative to combat crime. The declaration, made on “Fox & Friends,” comes despite local data indicating a significant 44% drop in crime incidents in Memphis this year, as of September 11.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young confirmed the deployment during a Friday afternoon news conference but stated he had not requested the National Guard. Young expressed a need for more details from state and federal authorities regarding the deployment’s specifics, including “When will they come? How many people are gonna come? How long will they be here? What are they going to wear?” The mayor highlighted that homicides in the city have fallen by nearly 30% in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s office, however, indicated on X that he would be discussing details with the President, expressing gratitude for Trump’s “unwavering support.” Trump asserted that both the mayor and governor were “happy” about the plan, a claim partially contradicted by Mayor Young’s public comments.

The move mirrors a recent federal law enforcement surge in Washington, D.C., which expired earlier this week. While Trump claims success in D.C., city data showed a pre-existing two-year decline in crime, and the D.C. Attorney General filed a lawsuit to end the deployment, terming it a “military occupation.” Critics also note Trump’s focus on deploying federal forces to cities led by Democratic mayors, including recent threats against Chicago that were met with strong opposition from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Trump reiterated his commitment to federal intervention, stating, “We’re going to fix that [Memphis], just like we did in Washington.” He also renewed threats to send “the military” to Chicago, claiming, “I can fix Chicago.” The deployments underscore a growing tension between federal and local authorities over crime control strategies.

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