President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will deploy the National Guard to Memphis, Tenn., next as part of an anti-crime initiative, and said the effort could include Army forces if necessary.
Trump made the announcement during an appearance on the Fox News morning program Fox & Friends and framed the move as a continuation of his broader push to address crime. He did not provide immediate details on timing, the number of personnel to be sent, or how the deployment would be coordinated with Tennessee state or local authorities.
The president characterized the deployment as part of a stepped-up approach to public safety. When asked on air about the scope of forces, he said the operation "would not be limited" to the National Guard and that Army units could be used if needed. No further operational specifics were provided during the broadcast.
The announcement was first reported by Fox News Digital. Officials in Tennessee, the Pentagon and the White House had not released additional public details at the time of the report, and it was not clear whether state authorities had been formally consulted or had agreed to the move. Under U.S. law, National Guard units typically operate under state control unless federalized, a status that carries different authorities and implications.
The president's remarks come amid heightened national attention to crime policy and public safety debates. Trump has promoted similar measures in public statements as part of his broader political agenda, though the particulars of deployments and intergovernmental coordination vary by case.
This is a developing story; additional information from federal, state and local officials was expected to clarify the timing, force composition and legal authority for any deployment to Memphis.