Trump Orders National Guard Deployment to Memphis Amid Crime Concerns
Memphis, Tennessee – US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order extending federal law enforcement operations to Memphis, including the deployment of National Guard troops and the creation of a new “Memphis State Task Force.”
The move comes despite Memphis police reporting that overall crime has dropped to its lowest level in 25 years.
Trump said the task force is aimed at tackling what he described as “tremendous levels of violent crime that have overwhelmed local authorities.” The force will bring together multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the US Marshals Service.
The president compared the initiative to his earlier crackdown in Washington, DC, where the National Guard was deployed in 2024. He has also called for similar federal involvement in Democratic-led cities such as Baltimore and Chicago.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, stood beside Trump at the White House during the announcement. “I’ve been in office for seven years, and I’m tired of crime holding the great city of Memphis back,” Lee said.
However, Memphis’s Democratic mayor, Paul Young, expressed skepticism. In a post on X, he wrote: “I did not ask for the National Guard, and I don’t think it is the way to drive down crime. But the decision has been made.”
Memphis: A City With a Complicated Crime Record
Memphis, a city known worldwide for its musical heritage in blues, soul, and rock and roll, has struggled with crime rates in recent years. FBI data for 2024 ranked Memphis as the US city with the highest violent crime rate among metropolitan areas of over 100,000 residents. The violent crime rate stood at 2,501 incidents per 100,000 people—higher than Oakland, California, and Detroit, Michigan.
But Memphis police argue that those numbers do not reflect the city’s recent progress. Officials reported in August 2025 that overall crime had dropped to a 25-year low. Murders are at a six-year low, aggravated assaults at a five-year low, and sexual assaults at their lowest level in two decades. Robbery, burglary, and larceny are also at 25-year lows.
Still, challenges remain. The city has recorded 146 homicides and more than 4,300 aggravated assaults so far in 2025.
Political and Public Reactions
The creation of the Memphis task force has sparked debate. Supporters, including Governor Lee, argue it will strengthen security and deter violent crime. Critics, however, warn that deploying the National Guard could strain relations between the community and law enforcement, especially at a time when crime data shows significant declines.
Trump’s move reflects a broader push to extend federal involvement in cities governed by Democrats, raising questions about the balance between federal authority and local control.