US President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of the National Guard to Memphis in a bid to address what his administration describes as soaring crime levels.
He signaled that Chicago, St. Louis, and New Orleans may soon face similar measures.
The move follows earlier deployments of federal forces to Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles this year, marking another significant test of presidential authority in using military resources within American cities.
Trump signed the order in the Oval Office alongside Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. The initiative will mobilize a coalition of federal agencies, including the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Department of Homeland Security, and US Marshals, working jointly with the National Guard and local law enforcement. Attorney General Pam Bondi has been appointed to oversee the operation.
Citing Memphis’ high rates of violent crime, property crime, and homicides, Trump said the deployment aims to restore public safety, echoing his justification for the troop presence in Washington, D.C. last month. City leaders, however, have repeatedly challenged his claims, labelling the move as politically motivated and authoritarian.
In recent months, National Guard troops have been deployed to several major cities, drawing sharp criticism from Democratic officials who argue the measures represent an overreach of executive power.
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