Trump sends National guard and ICE to Memphis – then reveals which city is next

President Donald Trump announced Monday the creation of a special safety task force for Memphis, Tennessee, calling the city “deeply troubled” by crime. From the Oval Office, he signed a presidential memorandum establishing the Memphis Safe Task Force, citing concerns over rising violence. He said the effort came at the request of Gov. Bill Lee and stressed that restoring safety is a national priority.

The move was not unexpected. Just last week, Trump labeled Memphis “troubled” during a Fox & Friends interview, vowing to “fix that just like we did Washington.” The deployment is part of his administration’s broader strategy of sending federal forces to Democratic-led cities, with earlier deployments in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.

Standing with Trump, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee expressed support, saying he was “tired of crime holding the great city of Memphis back.” The White House praised Memphis as a cultural landmark but noted its struggles with violent crime. FBI data ranked it as the U.S. city with the highest violent crime rate in 2024, including murder and robbery.

Despite these concerns, Memphis police reported historic crime drops in 2025, with overall crime at a 25-year low and significant declines in murder, assault, and burglary. This contradiction has fueled debate over whether Trump’s move is necessary.

Trump also hinted at future action, naming Chicago as likely next. He said the Memphis plan would replicate the “successful” federal efforts in Washington and involve National Guard support.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young opposed the deployment, telling CNN he doesn’t support the National Guard but cannot block it. He pledged instead to focus on coordinating their engagement with the community.

The announcement has divided opinion nationwide, with some viewing it as decisive action against crime and others warning of federal overreach into local matters.