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President Donald Trump announced on Monday (September 15) the deployment of the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, as part of a new "Memphis Safe Task Force" aimed at reducing crime in the city. During a White House event, Trump emphasized the importance of this initiative, citing crime concerns in Democratic-run cities. He stated, "I'm signing a presidential memorandum to establish the Memphis Safe Task Force, and it's very important because of the crime that's going on" as reported by Bloomberg.
Despite recent data showing a 44% drop in crime in Memphis this year, Trump insists federal intervention is necessary. Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, confirmed the deployment but noted he did not request the National Guard, expressing the need for more details on the operation according to ABC News. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, supports the move, stating he is "tired of crime holding the great city of Memphis back" as reported by WJHL.
Trump also announced plans to send a similar task force to Chicago, despite opposition from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Trump has indicated that he is willing to proceed without local support if necessary. The president has also mentioned potential deployments to other cities, including New Orleans, Baltimore, and St. Louis, as part of his broader strategy to combat crime in urban areas.