Summary
President Donald Trump has decided to send National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, as part of a new effort to reduce crime there. This decision comes despite Memphis experiencing a significant decline in overall crime rates. The task force involving federal agencies will operate similar to efforts previously implemented in Washington, DC.
Key Facts
- President Trump announced an executive order to deploy National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee.
- A new "Memphis State Task Force" will include agencies like the FBI and the US Marshals Service.
- Trump claims this move is to address high violent crime rates in Memphis.
- Contrary to this, overall crime in Memphis has been reported as reaching a 25-year low.
- The action is modeled after a previous initiative in Washington, DC.
- Tennessee Governor Bill Lee supports the decision, but Memphis Mayor Paul Young does not believe it will reduce crime.
- In 2024, Memphis recorded the highest violent crime rate per capita among US cities of 100,000 people or more.
- Despite a decrease in various crime categories, Memphis police still reported 146 homicides in 2025.
