Trump to send National Guard Troops to Memphis as crime crackdown expands

The U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News, Fox and Friends that he will send National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, as part of his crime crackdown in Democrat-led cities. Trump said the city’s Democratic mayor and the Republican governor of Tennessee are “happy” with this decision.

This marks a bigger step in Trump’s use of troops. It comes about a month after he sent the National Guard to Washington, DC. Memphis is among the most dangerous cities in the US, with 2,501 violent crimes per 100,000 people, according to FBI data. Trump said, “We’re going to Memphis. Memphis is deeply troubled,” but he did not say when the troops would arrive.

Trump plans to fight crime in US cities

Trump also said he wants to lower crime in New Orleans and Chicago. He added he “would have preferred going to Chicago” but chose Memphis. The mayor of Memphis, Paul Young, did not respond to BBC requests for comment after Trump’s announcement. Earlier this week, Mayor Paul Young said he had been talking with the Trump administration about federal help for the city’s police, as stated by a BBC report.


Young explained that Memphis needs money for crime prevention, more patrol officers, and stronger case support for investigations. He also said Memphis is already making progress in reducing crime and welcomed any efforts that help the work of police, partners, and residents.

National Guard deployment and legal concerns

On 11 August, Trump took control of Washington DC’s Metropolitan Police Department and activated the National Guard for 30 days. That order ended earlier this week. The White House said hundreds of arrests were made in DC during those 30 days, and Trump claimed the city is now “virtually crime free.” Even though the 30-day takeover ended, many National Guard troops are still in Washington, helping with things like trash collection and mulching, as per the BBC report.

Since the DC deployment, Trump has also warned he might send troops to Baltimore, Chicago, and New Orleans. Legal experts have raised concerns about using the National Guard against civilians. A court recently ruled that Trump’s earlier National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was unlawful, but the decision does not apply to other cities, as per the reports.

FAQs

Q1. Why is Trump sending the National Guard to Memphis?
Trump said he is sending troops to Memphis to fight high crime rates and support local police efforts.

Q2. Has Trump used the National Guard in other US cities?
Yes, Trump earlier deployed the National Guard in Washington DC and threatened to send them to Chicago, Baltimore, and New Orleans.