Donald Trump Surprises Memphis with Military Deployment Announcement

In a recent appearance on the popular broadcast ‘Fox & Friends’, former United States President Donald Trump revealed a surprise decision regarding Memphis, Tennessee. Trump mentioned his intent to boost the military presence in the city, which he described as ‘deeply troubled,’ by deploying the National Guard and any additional personnel required. However, exact details or a precise timetable for this military deployment were not provided during the show, leaving many questions for viewers.

Trump confidently assuaged fears about the military deployment in Memphis, stating his administration’s proven track record in Washington. However, the reality of the situation in Memphis appears somewhat different from Trump’s portrayal of the city. According to the Crime Commission of Memphis Shelby, crime rates in the city, including violent crimes, have shown a significant decrease compared to previous years.

Available crime data paints an encouraging picture, with violent crime reports showing a drop of over 17 percent in the first half of the year, a significant decrease compared to the same period in 2024. Despite this observed decrease in crime rates, Trump referred to his recent actions in the nation’s capital where he surged the city with federal agents and members of the National Guard, suggesting this was a successful law enforcement strategy.

The explanation for the deployment of troops in Washington, D.C., was to suppress crime, a move that was met with criticism due to record-low crime rates. This heavy-handed approach seemed to become a pattern as Trump exercised the same tactic in Los Angeles in the month of June, where he used National Guard personnel and Marines alike to quell protests against the administration’s immigration policies.

However, these actions were not without legal challenges. A federal judge pronounced Trump’s decision to dispatch the troops in Los Angeles as unlawful. Additionally, earlier in the same month, D.C.’s attorney general launched a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The legal claim argued that the troop deployment in the capital city was both unconstitutional and an over-reach of federal law.

In the ongoing dialogues about deploying the military to various cities, Chicago was a noticeable point of contention, with Trump frequently threatening to send forces. This decision appeared to have been deterred by an unidentified businessman who offered Trump an alternative. During their conversation, which Trump relayed on ‘Fox & Friends,’ the businessman suggested Memphis as the next potential city for the administration’s anti-crime operation.

Trump, keeping his source anonymous, mentioned that the advisor held considerable influence as he was a board member of FedEx, an organization with its main office in Memphis, and served as the CEO of the railroad company Union Pacific. Although the man’s identity was not disclosed, observers inferred from Trump’s description that he was potentially referring to Jim Vena, the former Union Pacific CEO who was a FedEx board member until 2023. The Guardian, however, clarified that current Union Pacific leaders do not hold any position on the FedEx board.

Memphis, as one of the most significantly majority-Black cities in the United States, fits into a pattern of Trump’s previous decisions to intervene in other urban areas like Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Chicago, which are predominantly Black and have Democratic leadership. Despite the potential political implications, the Republican Governor of Tennessee, Bill Lee, expressed his support for Trump’s decision.

Gov. Lee elaborated on his resolute commitment to work in tandem with Trump’s administration to strategize and tackle crime in Memphis using a multi-phased, strategic plan. The Governor’s statement from September 12 articulated the plan to utilize a combination of local and federal agencies, including the Tennessee National Guard, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the Memphis Police Department, in a collaborative mission.

The comprehensive mission is envisioned as being tailored in a manner to maximize the efficacy of each law enforcement agency. Gov. Lee is committed to facilitating an additional surge of the Tennessee Highway Patrol in Shelby County in coordination with the efforts of the Memphis Police Department via the Bluff City Task Force, with the express objective of quelling crime effectively.

Despite some backing the plan, not everyone is supporting Trump’s idea. For instance, Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, expressed discomfort regarding the deployment of the National Guard and additional resources to Memphis. He suggested alternative strategies for combating crime, including financial resources for prevention and intervention measures, bolstering patrol officers, and lending support for strengthened police investigations.

Mayor Young reminded critics that Memphis is making substantial strides in reducing the city’s crime rates. A significantly contrasting viewpoint was presented by Shelby County’s Mayor Lee Harris, another Democrat who expressed his disappointment in Trump’s decision, claiming the plan to militarize Memphis as ‘anti-democratic.’

As the primary elected official in Shelby County, with Memphis as the county seat, Harris’s perspective holds considerable relevance. He conveyed his objections to Trump’s announcements on Facebook, labelling the move as ‘disappointing’, ‘anti-democratic’, and a possible violation of American norms and U.S. laws.

Mayor Harris warned that the immediate impact of the President’s decision would lead to fear and confusion within communities, particularly those most vulnerable. He also asserted that the deployment of troops in Tennessee could undermine crucial citizen freedoms, such as the right to protest and the freedom to travel.

Mayor Harris emphasized the commitment to defend the rights, safety, and dignity of every resident in their communities. He assured the county’s inhabitants that every necessary step would be taken to prevent the military incursion into Tennessee and protect their rights.