Watch a live stream of the city of Memphis’ news conference from NewsNation affiliate WREG by clicking here. https://wreg.com/news/local/live-memphis-mayor-to-speak-on-national-guard-in-city
(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump announced Friday that National Guard troops will be deployed to Memphis, referring to the Tennessee city as “deeply troubled.”
Memphis had the highest rate of murder and other violent crimes in the country in 2024, according to a USA Today analysis of FBI crime data. The White House stated on Friday, indicating that Memphis’ crime rate last year was 344% higher than the national average and that 149 homicides have taken place in the city so far in 2025.
Memphis police recently reported a 25-year low in crimes like larceny, robbery and burglary, as well as a six-year low in murders. Local police also said the rate of aggravated assaults had reached a five-year low, while sexual assaults were the lowest they had been in 20 years.
Despite those reported reductions, Trump reiterated his concerns regarding crime rates in the city and said he would also send in militarized troops if necessary.
“We’re going to fix that, just like we did Washington,” Trump told Fox News.
Trump said in the interview that both Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee and Democratic Memphis Mayor Paul Young were “happy” with the decision.
Lee said in an issued statement on Friday that state’s goal is to accelerate an ongoing FBI mission which includes a task force of federal, state and local law enforcement.
Lee said that the National Guard deployment will be a deployment under his authority, overseeing the troops and not a federalization of any forces there.
“I’ve been in close contact with the (Trump) administration throughout the week and will be speaking with President Trump this afternoon to work out details of the mission,” Lee said. “I’m grateful for the President’s unwavering support and commitment to providing every resource necessary to serve Memphians, and I look forward to working with local officials and law enforcement to continue delivering results.
At a news conference on Friday, Young said he did not ask for the National Guard to be deployed to Memphis and he does “not think it’s the way to drive down crime.”
“However,” Young said, “that decision has been made.”
Young said he is committed to making sure that the deployment happens in a way that strengthens and benefits Memphis. The mayor said the city “has been making progress” in reducing crime, citing double-digit percentage drops in crime, violent crimes and homicides since 2024 and that the city was on pace to beat those numbers.
Young said Memphis has seen a 13% overall reduction in crime since 2024, including a 19% reduction in violent crime, 29% reduction in murders and 37% reduction in car thefts.
“I believe that we should double down on those strategies that we know work,” the mayor said Friday, adding, “We know that the work is not done. Out city is still too far too high on the bad lists.”
Trump indicated in the interview that with the support of both elected officials in place, troops would arrive to tackle Memphis’ crime.
“I’m just announcing that now, and we’ll straighten that out, National Guard and anybody else we need,” Trump said in the interview. “And by the way, we’ll bring in the military too if we need it, but National Guard, but Memphis is, look, it’s a great, music city.”
In a statement provided to NewsNation, U.S. Rep. David Kustoff, a Republican whose district includes part of Memphis, said he supportsTrump decision to send the guard.
“I thank the President for his commitment to curb violent crime,” Kustoff said. “It is important for the long-term success in Memphis to have additional and permanent federal law enforcement officers and agents who can work in conjunction with state and local officials. I will continue to work with the White House to secure these important resources.“
Trump would ‘prefer’ to send troops to Chicago, but cites ‘hostile’ setting
On Friday, Trump said he would “prefer” to go to Chicago, where Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, both Democrats, have stated troops are not welcome.
Both elected officials have said that rather than focusing on Democrat-led cities, Trump should send National Guard troops to cities with higher crime rates than Chicago. Trump said that if he were asked by officials, he would send troops to Chicago, where Operation Midway Blitz would take effect.
White House border czar Tom Homan has said the National Guard is still on the table for Chicago, but Trump said he doesn’t want to send guardsmen into a “hostile” area, the Associated Press reported.
Before Friday’s announcement, Trump said Chicago, Baltimore and New Orleans were possible destinations after the president deployed the National Guard in a similar effort in Washington, D.C. He has said crime has dropped significantly in the district since troops have been on the streets.
Also on Friday, Trump announced St. Louis as a potential future target for his crackdown on crime and suggested that, in time, multiple cities could have National Guard troops in place.