"President Donald Trump is hosting Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in the Oval Office on Monday after suggesting that he's ready to send the National Guard into Memphis to help combat crime. Lee's visit follows Trump saying on Friday that, "Memphis is deeply troubled" and adding, "We're going to fix that just like we did Washington." Speaking on Fox News Channel, Trump said "the mayor is happy" and "the governor is happy" about the pending deployment."
"Tennessee's Republican governor embraced the troop deployment as part of a broader law enforcement surge in Memphis. However, Trump's assertion drew pushback from the Democratic leader of Memphis, which is majority Black. "I did not ask for the National Guard, and I don't think it's the way to drive down crime," Mayor Paul Young told a news conference Friday while acknowledging the city remained high on too many "bad lists.""
President Donald Trump announced plans for a task force and suggested a possible National Guard deployment to Memphis to address rising crime. The White House cited a Memphis total crime rate higher than the national average and suggested an increase since last year. Trump previously deployed National Guard troops to Washington and federalized the city's police force, arguing it reduced crime. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee embraced the troop deployment as part of a broader law enforcement surge. Memphis Mayor Paul Young said he did not request the National Guard and expressed opposition. Chicago had been speculated as another target, facing local resistance.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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