In brief
US President Donald Trump, accompanied by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, has initiated a task force in Memphis to address crime issues such as carjackings and shootings, despite local opposition from Mayor Paul Young who believes crime is declining without federal intervention. The approach, modeled after DC's crackdown, will utilize federal agencies and has garnered mixed reactions from locals and officials.
US President Donald Trump, joined by Tennessee's Republican Governor Bill Lee, on Monday established a task force to take on crime in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Democratic-led city is the second to face a Trump administration crackdown on crime, following Washington DC. Trump has vowed to 'fix' the city after shelving plans for a similar operation in Chicago, reportedly due to opposition from local and state officials.
Memphis' mayor, Paul Young, also has voiced opposition to the plan, arguing that crime already is falling without federal intervention.
The president stated on Monday, however, that Memphis is 'overrun' with carjackings, robberies and shootings, as well as other crimes. We're not going to allow this kind of savagery to destroy our society anymore, Trump said at a memorandum-signing in the Oval Office.
He added, We're going to take care of all of them step by step, just like we did in DC. We have virtually no crime in DC right now, and we're going to keep it that way. The Memphis task force will be a 'replica of efforts' in Washington DC, Trump emphasized, planning to activate federal agencies including the National Guard, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with the Department of Justice.
Lee praised his efforts for 'sustained crime lowering' in the state and supported the plan, stating he was working with the White House to bring 'the full extent of both federal and state resources' to Memphis. However, Mayor Young expressed concerns about the potential impact of the National Guard deployment on local communities.
FBI statistics from 2024 indicate that Memphis has 2,501 violent crimes per 100,000 people, ranking among the highest in the US. The announcement follows speculation regarding potential federal resource deployments to Chicago, New Orleans, and Baltimore.
On August 11, Trump took over Washington DC's police department, activating National Guard units and deploying additional federal law enforcement officers, resulting in over 2,000 arrests. Polls indicate that the presence of National Guard troops in cities, including Los Angeles, remains unpopular among residents, although administration officials cite progress in curbing crime in DC.
As the Trump administration continues its approach to crime in urban areas, legal challenges may arise, as evidenced by a recent ruling from a federal judge regarding troop deployment legality in Los Angeles.
