Trump Deploys National Guard to Memphis Amid Mayor's Non-Request and Record Crime Drop
President Trump is deploying National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, despite Mayor Paul Young not requesting them and the city experiencing a 25-year low in crime, sparking debate over federal intervention.
Trump sending National Guard troops to ‘fix’ crime in Memphis
New York Daily News
Lee says he's working out National Guard details with Trump
Washington Examiner
Trump says he’ll send National Guard troops to Memphis
Military Times
Trump to send National Guard to Memphis
Washington Examiner
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Overview
- President Trump announced the deployment of National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, as part of his nationwide anti-crime push, marking a shift in federal intervention strategy.
- Trump justified the deployment by citing Memphis as having the highest violent crime rate in the United States, prompting discussions of federal intervention and a potential militarized response.
- Despite Trump's decision and support from Tennessee officials, Memphis Mayor Paul Young did not request the National Guard to combat crime in the city.
- New data reveals that crime in Memphis has significantly decreased in 2025, with a 44% drop in reported incidents, reaching a 25-year low according to the Memphis Police Department.
- This deployment underscores Trump's intent to send the National Guard and potentially the military to Democratic-run cities, promising a comprehensive militarized response.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally by presenting a balanced account of President Trump's announcement to send the National Guard to Memphis. They immediately contextualize his claims with contradictory local crime data and include a diverse range of reactions from local and state officials, as well as critics, without editorializing.
"Crime has dropped by 44% this year, according to city data."
ABC News"The city is “deeply troubled,” he said, adding, “we’re going to fix that just like we did Washington,” where he’s sent the National Guard and surged federal law enforcement."
Military Times"The White House has been sending mixed signals over whether they would be sending troops to Chicago for some time, even as immigration activity has ramped up under the banner of 'Operation Midway Blitz.'"
CBS News"The city is “deeply troubled” and “we’re going to fix that just like we did Washington,” where he’s sent National Guard and surged federal law enforcement."
Chicago Sun-Times"Trump announced plans to send federal law enforcement and the National Guard into Memphis to address the city's crime issues, expressing confidence in the approach."
NBC News"Trump announced Memphis would be the next target for a federal law enforcement push."
NPR"The city is “deeply troubled” and “we’re going to fix that just like we did Washington,” where he’s sent National Guard and surged federal law enforcement."
Chicago Tribune"Trump announced the deployment of the National Guard to Memphis, a city facing significant crime challenges, with the support of local leadership."
USA TODAY"The city is “deeply troubled” and “we’re going to fix that just like we did Washington,” where he’s sent National Guard and surged federal law enforcement."
Associated PressArticles (25)
Center (9)
FAQ
President Trump justified deploying the National Guard to Memphis by citing the city as having the highest violent crime rate in the U.S., as part of a broader nationwide anti-crime push and a shift in federal intervention strategy.
In 2025, Memphis experienced significant crime reductions, with overall crime at a 25-year low and decreases across major categories such as robbery, burglary, and larceny, although some violent crimes like homicide remain high compared to previous years.
Homicides for the first half of 2025 were 58% higher than the same period in 2019, and motor vehicle theft levels were double 2019 levels, despite recent declines in other crime categories.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young did not request National Guard support, indicating some local opposition to the federal intervention, though Tennessee officials supported the deployment.
The deployment underscores the Trump administration's intention to send National Guard and potentially military forces to Democratic-run cities as part of a comprehensive, potentially militarized, response to rising violent crime rates nationwide.
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