Trump Sends Troops to Memphis, Echoing D.C. Crime Strategy

 September 16, 2025

In a bold move to address urban crime, President Donald Trump signed an order on Monday to deploy the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, as part of a federal effort to curb violence in American cities.

Newsmax reported that the decision, announced alongside Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, mirrors a recent crackdown in Washington, D.C., and has ignited debate over federal intervention in local law enforcement amid conflicting crime statistics in Memphis.

The idea of sending federal forces to Memphis first surfaced last Friday when Trump hinted at the possibility during public remarks.

Federal Intervention Sparks Local Controversy

This suggestion drew immediate criticism from Democratic Mayor Paul Young, who later clarified his stance after the official announcement.

Young emphasized that he had not requested military assistance and expressed skepticism about its effectiveness in reducing crime.

“I did not ask for the National Guard, and I don’t think it’s the way to drive down crime,” Young said, while acknowledging that Memphis still ranks high on lists of cities with crime challenges.

Trump Compares Memphis to D.C. Success

On Monday, Trump formalized the deployment during a meeting in the Oval Office with Governor Lee present to show state support.

Describing the operation as a “replica of our extraordinarily successful efforts” in Washington, D.C., Trump referenced last month’s federalization of D.C.’s police and National Guard deployment there.

He also announced that the Memphis initiative would involve multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ICE, and U.S. Marshals Service, to bolster local efforts.

Crime Data Presents Mixed Picture

Trump underscored the urgency of the deployment by stating, “We’re sending in the big force now,” signaling a significant federal presence in the city.

The White House further justified the move on social media, claiming that Memphis’s total crime rate exceeds the national average and has increased since last year.

However, local police data paints a different picture, showing declines in all major crime categories during the first eight months of 2025 compared to prior years.

Local Leaders Weigh In on Deployment

Memphis police also reported that overall crime is at a 25-year low, with homicides at their lowest in six years.

Despite these improvements, the city continues to grapple with gun violence, having recorded over 390 homicides in 2023, a record high for Memphis.

Governor Lee backed the federal intervention, stating he was “tired of crime holding the great city of Memphis back,” and framed it as part of a broader law enforcement surge in the area.