Trump Sending National Guard to Memphis

Memphis had the highest crime rate per 100,000 people, based on FBI data from 2024.

Trump said he “would have preferred” sending federal law enforcement into Chicago, something he had mused about for weeks. But city and state officials there had aggressively pushed back, raising the prospect of a drawn-out legal battle over a National Guard deployment.

The president last month surged federal law enforcement and deployed the National Guard across Washington, D.C. Crime has been down across the District, though many residents have expressed their displeasure and raised concerns that immigration arrests have been a central part of the crackdown. National Guard troops have also been tasked with picking up garbage and beautifying the city.

The White House also took over control of the District’s police department, though that move lapsed this week after 30 days. White House officials have pointed to a measure signed by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) that ensures indefinite cooperation between the city and the federal government.