Trump Strengthens Crime Fight: National Guard Deployments in Memphis and Potential Expansion to Other Cities
Former U.S.
President Donald Trump is launching a new initiative to combat rising crime levels across the country, with a particular focus on cities experiencing high violence rates.
The announcement of deploying the National Guard to Memphis is part of a broader plan, which Trump claims aims to establish an effective, large-scale crime-fighting operation.
He also hinted that Chicago, one of the largest and most challenging urban areas in the country, could be next in line.The White House reported that Memphis’s crime rate is indeed increasing and exceeds the national average, despite official police statistics suggesting otherwise.
However, city police recently announced a notable decrease in major crimes during the first eight months of 2025, including the lowest murder rate in six years and the lowest violence level in 25 years.
Despite some improvements, gun violence remains a persistent problem in the city.According to Trump, federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, ICE, and US Marshals Service will be involved in the operation.
The approach is based on the success of similar efforts in Washington, where military personnel were engaged to tackle city crime, a model now being applied in Memphis to stabilize its security situation.Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee supported the initiative, personally attending the signing of the memorandum at the White House.
Trump expressed confidence that Chicago will follow as the next city in need, with further targets including St.
Louis, Baltimore, and New Orleans.
Democratic leaders from these regions, including Illinois Governor J.B.
Pritzker and Chicago authorities, criticized the idea, warning against unnecessary intervention.Official data from the Biden administration and Memphis police indicated crime rates had decreased and reached historic lows in many categories, including murder, which hit a six-year minimum.
Nevertheless, high levels of gun violence, exemplified by over 390 homicides in 2023, continue to pose serious challenges for Memphis, a city with a long history of grappling with violence.Trump also mentioned that other cities, after Chicago, might be next to receive federal support to restore order and ensure safety on the streets, highlighting his administration’s focus on law enforcement and crime reduction nationwide.