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Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on September 12 that National Guard troops will be deployed to Memphis, Tennessee, as part of his nationwide crime crackdown.
Speaking on Fox & Friends, Trump described Memphis as “deeply troubled” and said both Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican ally, and Memphis Mayor Paul Young were supportive of the move. However, hours later, Mayor Young clarified that he had not requested the National Guard and expressed skepticism about whether it would reduce crime.
“I do not think it’s the way to drive down crime. However, that decision has been made,” Young said, adding that his focus remains on securing more FBI and ATF resources to aid local law enforcement.
Memphis has long battled high crime rates. In 2024, the city recorded the highest homicide and violent crime rate among major U.S. cities, with 40.6 homicides per 100,000 people, according to FBI data analyzed by USA TODAY.
Governor Lee welcomed the Guard’s deployment, saying it would supplement Operation Viper, an FBI-led initiative to tackle crime in Memphis. “I’m grateful for the President’s unwavering support and commitment to providing every resource necessary,” Lee said.
Still, Mayor Young raised concerns about the lack of clarity on details such as troop numbers, deployment length, and their exact role in the city.
Critics, including Congressman Steve Cohen, pushed back on Trump’s characterization of Memphis as “a troubled city,” arguing that while crime is a problem, the city needs long-term federal investment in programs addressing root causes.
Trump has pointed to what he describes as the success of his Washington, D.C. crime crackdown, where more than 2,200 National Guard troops were deployed last month. However, his claims have been challenged, with critics noting that crime was already declining before the intervention.
