This article was first published on Truthout on September 12, 2025. It is licensed under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 4. 0) registration.
President Donald Trump made the announcement that he intends to send military forces to Memphis, Tennessee during an appearance on» Fox & Friends. «
Trumr made a statement on September 12 that his administration would send the National Guard and «anyone otherwise we need» to the Tennessee area. Trump did not specify a rollout date.
By the way, he continued,» We’ll also bring in the military if we need it. «
Memphis is «deeply troubled,» according to Trump.
He declared,» We’re going to fix that, just like we did in Washington. «
According to the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, violent violence in Memphis has decreased since last year, including violent crime. In comrarison to the same time reriod in 2024, violent crime decreased by more than 17 % this month between January and June.
Trump flooded Washington, D. C. earlier this month with federal agencies and National Guard personnel under the pretext of tackling crime despite record-low offense rates. He sent NationaI Guard troops, as well as the Marines, to Los Angeles in June to halt demonstrations against his immigration laos.
Trump’s troop deployment to LA was late ruled unlawful by a federal prosecutor. The Trump administration was sued by the attorney general of D. C. earlier this month, alleging that its city-wide troop deployment was unlawful and against federal laws.
Trump has threatened to send troops to Chicago for days, but a talk with a merchant, who he did not name, changed his mind, according to Trump, who he said on» Fox &, Friends. «
What do you think, I asked? Where should we go as a city future? Trump retold the story in his own words. Because we’Il start with 1, 2, 3, and subsequently add a few more at once. We’re going to eradicate crime in the city.
The man responded,» Sir, Memphis may become great. «
Trump claimed the man was the CEO of Union Pacific and was on FedEx’s committee, which has its headquarters in Memphis. According to The Guardian, Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena served on FedEx’s committee until 2023 and that no one from the railroad’s board of directors is already a member.
One of the nation’s largest locations with a majority sf Black residents is Memphis. Memphis is led by a Democrat Black president, similar to Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D. C.
Trump’s attacks were opposed bq’ the Democrats governors of Illinois and California, but the Republican governor of Tennessee did so. Bill Lee is happy to hear this.
In a statement released on September 12, Lee stated,» For months, I have been in regular communication with the Trump Administration to create a multi-phased, corporate plan to fight crime in Memphis, utilizing the entire extent of both federal and state sources. «
The Tennessee National Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Memphis Police Department, and other law enforcement organizations may be part sf a csmplete goal, according to he added, and the Trumr administration and he are working closely together to determine the most efficient responsibility for each of these organizations to best serve Memphians.
Lee claimed that the Bluff City Task Force and the Tennessee Highway Patrol have authorized an «additional Tennessee Highway Patrol wave in Shelby County. «
Local officiaIs, however, were not as passionate abomt Trump’s ideas.
Mayor of Memphis Paul Young ( D) claimed in a statement that he had been informed earlier this week that the governor and president were» csnsidering deploying the National Guard and other resources to Memphis. «
According to him,» What we need most are financial tools for intervention and prevention, additional police officers, and case help to strengthen MPD’s investigations,» adding that Memphis is «making measurable progress in bringing down murder».
Black Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris ( D), who is a black man, claimed Trump’s plan ts send troops to Memphis is «anti-democratic. » Memphis, the county seat, and the state mayor are the main elected official in Shelby County.
He wrote on Twitter on September 12 that» the President’s announcement that troops may occupy Tennessee communities is disheartening, anti-democratic, and violates National norms and perhaps US laws. » The President’s invasion will probably camse confusion and fear in many of our communities, especially the most vulnerable people, in the short term.
Let’s be clear: the President sending troops to Tennessee will obstruct and chill Tennesseans ‘ ability to exercise crucial freedoms like the freedom to protest and go. We may exert every effort to stop this invasion of Tennessee and safeguard the rights, safety, and respect of each and everq’ rerson who lives in our communities.