In brief
In a press meeting held at the White House, President Donald Trump welcomed Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to discuss the possibility of sending the National Guard to Memphis in an effort to combat escalating crime rates, which have reportedly surpassed national averages. While Trump touted support from local officials, Memphis Mayor Paul Young expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of such a deployment. The meeting reflects ongoing tensions regarding the use of military forces in domestic law enforcement.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump hosted Tennessee Governor Bill Lee in the Oval Office on Monday, following Trump's suggestion to deploy the National Guard to Memphis to address rising crime rates.
Lee's visit came after Trump stated that Memphis is deeply troubled and pledged to remedy the situation like previous efforts in Washington. In an appearance on Fox News, Trump indicated both the mayor and governor were supportive of this action.
As the meeting began, the White House highlighted that Memphis has a crime rate surpassing the national average, marking an increase from previous years contrary to national trends.
Last month, Trump had successfully deployed National Guard troops to Washington, arguing that this led to a noticeable drop in crime. If implemented, the move to send troops to Memphis would represent another exploration of presidential power limits in using military resources for local policing.
Governor Lee embraced the potential deployment, viewing it as part of a broader strategy to enhance law enforcement in Memphis. However, local dissent surfaced, particularly from Mayor Young, who remarked, “I did not ask for the National Guard, and I don’t think it’s the way to drive down crime,” even while acknowledging Memphis was on several undesirable lists.
Speculation had previously suggested that Chicago might be the next target for federal intervention; however, this faced strong opposition from Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker and various local leaders.
