President Donald Trump is taking credit for declining crime rates in Memphis after announcing plans to send the National Guard to the city, following similar deployments in Washington, D.C. and previously in Los Angeles.
In a Truth Social post Saturday evening, Trump wrote, “The only reason crime is somewhat down in Memphis is because the FBI, and others in the Federal Government, at my direction, have been working there for 5 months—on the absolutely terrible Crime numbers.“
He continued, “Likewise, in Chicago and Los Angeles! But the real work by us has barely begun. That happens after we make the official announcement that WE RE COMING, and when we do that, as we did in now VERY SAFE WASHINGTON, D.C., the no crime ‘miracle’ begins,“ before ending emphatically, ”ONLY I CAN SAVE THEM!!!”
Trump has previously deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles—a move later ruled unlawful—and to Washington, D.C. He has signaled plans to bring troops into other major U.S. cities, largely those led by Democratic governors.
On Friday, the administration announced that troops would be sent to Memphis “as part of the Trump Administration’s aggressive push to dismantle the rampant violent crime fueled by failed Democrat governance in major cities.”
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, has cooperated with the plan, posting Friday, “For months, I have been in constant communication with the Trump Administration to develop a multi-phased, strategic plan to combat crime in Memphis, leveraging the full extent of both federal and state resources.”
Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, said he was not consulted and first learned of the deployment from Trump’s announcement on Fox News. Speaking to CNN, Young said, “As mayor, my goal is to make sure if they are indeed coming, that we have an opportunity to drive some of the decisions around how they engage in our community.”
He added, “With regards to the National Guard, it is something that we don’t have a choice in, and we’re going to do all we can to ensure it has limited impact on our community.” While crime in D.C. has declined following the National Guard deployment, experts note it was already falling prior to the troops’ arrival. Some troops reportedly have had downtime, asking neighborhood commissioners how they could assist with local beautification efforts.
The deployment has also sparked concerns about public perception. An internal sentiment analysis accidentally sent to the media indicated largely negative reactions from residents. Businesses, including museums and restaurants, have reported lower visitor numbers. “We have been dealing with concerns from the leisure market about the atmosphere in D.C. That has been the biggest issue,” said Elliot Ferguson, CEO of Destination DC.