Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Sep 13: US President Donald Trump has announced plans to deploy the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, citing concerns over rising crime in the city. The move, which he claimed is supported by both the city's mayor and the state’s Republican Governor Bill Lee, has sparked immediate backlash from local officials and raised fresh concerns about federal overreach and militarization of American communities.

In an interview, Trump described Memphis as “deeply troubled,” and said the deployment would mirror his previous action in Washington, D.C. “We’re going to fix that, just like we did in Washington,” he said, suggesting a broader strategy to intervene in cities he deems unsafe, particularly those led by Democrats.

Memphis, a majority-Black, Democratic stronghold, was quick to respond. Mayor Paul Young clarified during a Friday press conference that he had not requested the National Guard, and questioned the effectiveness of such a move. “I don’t think it’s the way to drive down crime,” he said, though he added that he would work with all levels of government to ensure public safety.

Lee Harris, mayor of Shelby County, which includes Memphis, was more direct in his criticism. In a pointed statement on X (formerly Twitter), Harris said: “Mr. President, no one here is 'happy.' We’re not happy you’re militarizing Tennessee communities. Not happy at all with occupation, armored vehicles, semi-automatic weapons, and military personnel in fatigues.”

Despite local resistance, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee confirmed coordination with the federal government, stating he had been in “close contact” with the Trump administration and would be discussing mission details with the president.

This latest move follows Trump’s earlier deployment of the National Guard in Washington and his recent signals that similar actions could be taken in other Democrat-led cities, including Chicago and Baltimore. The growing list of targeted urban centers has fueled debate over whether the actions are genuinely aimed at reducing crime or are politically motivated interventions in cities governed by political opponents.