During his broadcast on ‘Fox & Friends,’ former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his intention to send army servicemen to Memphis, Tennessee. In the television appearance on the twelfth day of September, he stated that the National Guard, amongst others, would be assigned to the expanses of the Tennessee city, without providing a specific date for this action. He made it clear that, if necessary, he was willing to call upon additional military force. He remarked that the city of Memphis is currently ‘in dire straits’ and vowed to rectify the situation as was done in the capital.
A review of the statistics provided by the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission reveals there has been a downward trend in Memphis crime, inclusive of violent incidents, as compared to the previous year. To provide specific data, the crimes of a violent nature have seen a reduction of over 17 percent in the first half of the current year in contrast to the equivalent span in the year 2024.
Early in the given month, Trump launched a campaign against criminal activities in Washington D.C., saturating the area with federal operatives and National Guard. Despite the city’s crime rate being at an all-time low, he introduced these measures under the guise of curbing transgressions. In the month of June, the President sent the National Guard as well as marines to intervene in protests arising in Los Angeles due to his immigration principles.
However, a recent ruling by a judiciary member declared that the President’s strategy to station troops in Los Angeles was in violation of the law. Furthermore, the Trump administration faced a lawsuit from the city’s Attorney General earlier this month. The suit alleges that the introduction of forces in the city violated constitutional rights and contradicted federal legalities.
Trump repeatedly expressed his desire to despatch troops to the city of Chicago in recent weeks. Following a discussion with an unnamed businessman, Trump seemingly reversed his stance. Recalling the dialogue on ‘Fox & Friends,’ Trump related how the businessman’s opinion on the next urban area prone for intervention influenced him.
Trump iterated his plan to systematically identify and remedy crime-ridden cities. Upon querying about the next city to receive intervention, the business gentleman suggested Memphis. Although Trump did not reveal the person’s identity, he disclosed the gentleman was affiliated with FedEx’s board and held a chief position at the railroad enterprise, Union Pacific. Both organizations have a strong presence in Memphis, which lends credibility to his insight.
A report by The Guardian indicated that Jim Vena, the CEO of Union Pacific, served on FedEx’s board until the year 2023. However, as per the recent intel, none of the leaders from the railroad company currently hold a position on the FedEx board. Memphis holds significance as one of the country’s largest cities with a predominantly African American population.
Memphis shares similarities with Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C., having a Democratic Black mayor at the helm. Although Trump’s encroachment was met with resistance from the Democratic leaders of Illinois and California, Bill Lee, the Republican Governor of Tennessee, greeted the news with enthusiasm.
In a public statement released on September 12, Governor Lee mentioned his persistent dialogue with the Trump Administration to devise a strategy to decrease crime rates in Memphis. For this purpose, he discussed implementing a strategy utilizing both federal and state resources. According to the outlined plan, the Tennessee National Guard and several law enforcement units such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and Memphis Police Department will play pivotal roles.
Further in his statement, Governor Lee mentioned approving a surge in the Tennessee Highway Patrol presence in the Shelby County, in cooperation with the Memphis Police Department through the Bluff City Task Force. In contrast, local officials expressed more skepticism towards Trump’s resolution for Memphis.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young (D) maintained that although he had prior knowledge of the President’s intent to deploy forces in the city, he feels that additional funding for prevention measures, additional officers on patrol, and support for investigations would be more impactful. He insists that current methods are yielding tangible results in crime reduction.
Shelby County’s Mayor Lee Harris (D) marked Trump’s plan to bring in the military as an ‘undemocratic’ act. As the lead elected official of Shelby County, where Memphis is located, he stated unequivocally in a Facebook post from September 12 that this decision was disappointing, undemocratic, and possibly in violation of U.S. law.
Mayor Harris raised concerns about potential consequences, including confusion and fear in vulnerable communities. He emphasized that this move could infringe on the fundamental freedoms of the people of Tennessee, including their rights to protest and travel. He vowed to do everything in his power to prevent this infringement and ensure the protection and respect of all citizens.
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