President Donald Trump is rolling out the big guns, quite literally, to tackle crime in Memphis, Tennessee.
Fox News reported that Trump's latest move to potentially deploy the National Guard to Memphis comes on the heels of his claims of crime reduction success in the city over the past five months, with plans to escalate federal intervention amidst a backdrop of staggering violent crime statistics and mixed reactions from local leaders.
First up, let’s rewind to Saturday, when Trump took to Truth Social with a bold declaration. He credited a drop in Memphis crime to the presence of FBI and other federal officers over recent months.
Now, if federal badges alone could solve everything, we’d all sleep better at night, but the jury’s still out on the real impact.
On Friday, the president upped the ante, announcing that Memphis is next in line for a National Guard deployment to combat its notorious crime rates. Details on when these troops might arrive are still murky, leaving locals to wonder if this is a promise or just tough talk.
Memphis, sitting pretty on the Mississippi River border, isn’t exactly winning awards for safety. White House data pegs it as having the highest violent crime rate and the third-highest murder rate in the nation for 2024. With nearly 150 homicides reported this year alone, it’s no surprise the city’s caught Trump’s eye.
Trump himself didn’t hold back on Truth Social, proclaiming, “The only reason crime is somewhat down in Memphis, Tennessee, is because [I] sent the FBI and other federal officers.”
That’s a hefty pat on his own back, but let’s be real—five months of federal presence doesn’t magically erase deep-rooted issues. The data shows a problem too big for quick fixes.
He didn’t stop there, adding, “But the real work by us has barely begun.” Trump hinted at a “no crime 'miracle'” akin to what he claims happened in Washington, D.C., once the official rollout happens. Color me skeptical—miracles are hard to come by in policy, not just prayer.
Trump also name-dropped similar efforts in Chicago and Los Angeles, suggesting a broader strategy. Whether those cities are singing his praises or shaking their heads remains to be seen, but Memphis is in the spotlight now.
Local reactions are a mixed bag, starting with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, who’s all in, saying he’s “grateful for the president’s unwavering support.” That’s a Republican high-five if I’ve ever seen one, though some might wonder if state resources couldn’t handle this without federal overreach.
Gov. Lee doubled down, noting, “I look forward to working with local officials and law enforcement to continue delivering results.” It’s a nice sentiment, but results are what Memphians need, not just handshakes.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, another Tennessee Republican, cheered that Trump “answered [her] call to make Memphis safe again.” That’s the kind of rhetoric that fires up the base, though skeptics might ask if safety comes at the cost of local control.
On the flip side, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris isn’t buying the hype, calling the move “disappointing, anti-democratic, and violates American norms.” That’s a sharp jab at federal intervention, and it’s hard to ignore the concern over boots on the ground in civilian spaces.
Mayor Harris warned, “In the short term, the president’s incursion will likely cause confusion and fear in many of our communities, particularly the most vulnerable ones.” He’s got a point—when the National Guard shows up, it’s not exactly a comforting neighborhood watch vibe.
Harris added that “the mark of Tennessee communities being occupied by federal forces will hurt our state’s reputation for generations.” It’s a long-term worry, and while safety matters, so does the image of a free and self-reliant South—something conservatives hold dear.