President Donald Trump said Saturday that a recent deployment of FBI and other federal officers has reduced crime in Memphis and indicated he is considering sending National Guard troops to the city to address violent crime.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump credited federal personnel for driving down what he described as “absolutely terrible crime numbers” over the last five months and said he had taken similar action in Chicago and Los Angeles. “But the real work by us has barely begun,” he added, saying the larger effort would follow an official announcement. In the post, he wrote, “ONLY I CAN SAVE THEM!!!”
The White House provided data showing Memphis had the highest violent-crime rate and the third-highest murder rate in the United States in 2024. Local officials reported that nearly 150 homicides have been recorded in the city so far this year. It remained unclear when, if at all, National Guard troops would be deployed to Memphis.
Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee expressed support for federal assistance, posting on X that he was “grateful for the president’s unwavering support and commitment to providing every resource necessary to serve Memphians,” and said he looked forward to coordinating with local officials and law enforcement. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said Trump had “answered [her] call” and backed the use of National Guardsmen, citing the administration’s efforts to reduce violent crime in Washington, D.C.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young said he supports focused federal initiatives, but some local leaders criticized the prospect of a federal show of force. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said the announcement was “disappointing, anti-democratic and violates American norms and possibly U.S. laws,” adding that a federal incursion could cause short-term fear and confusion and long-term reputational harm to Tennessee communities.
Local business owners offered mixed views. Some Memphis business operators told reporters they had not taken issue with crime in the city, while law enforcement and community leaders have described persistent public-safety challenges in some neighborhoods.
The White House’s crime data and Trump’s public statements come amid heightened political attention to crime in several large U.S. cities. Trump has repeatedly highlighted federal interventions, citing what he described as success in Washington after a federal crackdown. Administration officials have emphasized a range of tools — from prosecutions to interagency deployments — as part of efforts to reduce violent crime.
The president’s remarks followed an initial announcement on Friday that Memphis was being eyed for potential National Guard deployment. Local officials said they had been briefed but gave differing public reactions. Shelby County leaders suggested that federal action raised legal and constitutional questions, while state and some city officials welcomed additional federal resources.
Law enforcement officials have not released a timeline for any National Guard movement to Memphis. Officials in Washington and Tennessee said coordination would continue between federal, state and local agencies if a deployment were to be ordered.
Press offices for the White House and the departments potentially involved in such an operation did not immediately provide additional details about troop numbers, mission scope or legal authorities that would govern any National Guard deployment. Congressional lawmakers and civil rights advocates may scrutinize plans should the administration move forward, and local leaders have said community input will be necessary.
The confrontation over federal intervention in Memphis reflects broader debates over the proper role of federal forces in local public-safety matters, a flashpoint that has surfaced in recent months in other cities. Officials from the affected jurisdictions have underscored the need for coordination and clarity about objectives, oversight and exit strategies if the federal government assumes a more visible role in supporting local policing.
Fox News Digital contributed reporting to earlier accounts of the developments.