The president expands federal interventions in Democratic-led cities, calling Memphis “deeply troubled.”
President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, as part of his administration’s push to address crime in Democratic-led cities. The move follows last month’s controversial decision to place Washington, DC’s police force under direct federal control.
“Memphis is deeply troubled. The mayor is happy … We’re going to fix that just like we did Washington,” Trump said in a televised interview on Friday. Officials from Memphis Mayor Paul Young’s office have yet to comment on the president’s remarks.
Home to more than 600,000 residents, Memphis struggles with one of the highest violent crime rates in the United States. Nearly a quarter of the city’s population lives in poverty, more than twice the national average. Federal agents were previously sent to the city in 2020 during Trump’s first term to assist local authorities.
The announcement comes amid nationwide debate over the scope of federal authority in local law enforcement. Earlier this summer, Trump ordered National Guard troops into Los Angeles despite objections from California’s governor, invoking Title 10 to place state forces under federal command.
Trump suggested additional deployments may follow, naming New Orleans as a potential target and reiterating his long-standing threats to send troops into Chicago. Critics argue the interventions undermine local governance, while supporters claim they are necessary to restore order.
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