President Donald Trump has signed an executive order deploying National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, as part of an expanded federal crackdown on crime in Democratic-run cities. The move, announced Monday, establishes a “Memphis Safe Task Force” to work alongside agencies including the FBI, ATF, DEA, ICE, US Marshals, and the Department of Justice.
Trump cited crime statistics and vowed to end “savagery” and “make Memphis safe again.” Tennessee’s Republican Governor Bill Lee welcomed the deployment, saying he is “tired of crime holding the great city of Memphis back.” Trump predicted crime would “plummet within weeks” and called it Lee’s “proudest moment.”
The president also indicated Chicago is “probably next,” despite opposition from Illinois’ Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, who called the idea “terrible.” Trump said the administration would proceed without Pritzker’s help if necessary. He also floated St Louis, New Orleans, and Baltimore as potential future targets.
The deployment follows a similar operation in Washington DC last month, where violent crime was already at a 30-year low. Critics argue the moves are politically motivated, targeting cities led by Democrats.
