"President Donald Trump on Monday signed an order sending the National Guard into Memphis to combat crime, constituting his latest test of the limits of presidential power by using military force in American cities. Trump made the announcement with Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee visiting the Oval Office, calling what's coming a replica of our extraordinarily successful efforts in Washington."
"Shortly before Trump's announcement, the White House said on social media that the Memphis total crime rate was higher than the national average and suggested that the rate had increased since last year, bucking national trends. That's despite Memphis police recently reporting decreases across every major crime category in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period in previous years. Overall crime hit a 25-year low, while murder hit a six-year low, police said."
An order sends the National Guard into Memphis to combat crime, with federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, ICE and U.S. Marshals participating. The deployment is presented as a replica of a prior National Guard deployment and federalization of police in Washington. The White House reported Memphis total crime above the national average and suggested year-over-year increases, despite Memphis police data showing decreases across major crime categories through the first eight months of 2025. Overall crime reached a 25-year low and murders a six-year low, yet longstanding gun violence persists and 2023 recorded over 390 homicides. The Tennessee governor supported the surge while the Memphis mayor opposed National Guard involvement.
Read at www.twincities.com
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