President Donald Trump announced that the next city in his federal crime crackdown initiative is Memphis, Tennessee, signaling a bold expansion of his efforts following the controversial but successful 30-day National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C.
“We’re going to Memphis – Memphis is deeply troubled,” Trump said in an interview on Fox & Friends. “We’re going to fix that just like we did Washington.”
Trump’s takeover of D.C. police earlier this year drew both praise and criticism, but he insists the results speak for themselves. The city saw a marked reduction in violent crime, thanks to the presence of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement coordination.
A National Guard presence will remain in D.C. through November as Trump moves on to his next target.
Despite speculation that Chicago or Baltimore might be next, Trump revealed Memphis as his immediate focus due to the city’s staggering crime statistics.
“With a population of nearly 619,000, Memphis’ violent crime rate in 2024 was 2,501 per 100,000, massively higher than the national rate of 380 per 100,000 people,” the Daily Mail reported.
Trump credited cooperation from Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) for enabling federal support in the crime crackdown, as Trending Politics reported.
“We’ll straighten that out,” the president promised Friday morning.
Interestingly, Memphis’ Democratic Mayor Paul Young reportedly welcomed the federal assistance, providing a rare bipartisan moment in the president’s law-and-order campaign. “We’re going to fix [Memphis], just like we did Washington,” Trump reiterated, before acknowledging, “I would have preferred going to Chicago.”
Trump hinted that St. Louis could also be next on the federal crackdown list, noting its long-standing reputation for violent crime. However, he stressed that Chicago remains a priority if Illinois Governor JB Pritzker requests federal assistance.
“Do you know how many people were killed in Chicago last weekend? Eight. The week before? Seven. Seventy-four wounded. You think there’s worse than that? I don’t think so,” Trump said.
The president’s remarks highlight his continued focus on urban crime hotspots, particularly in Democratic-led cities, while emphasizing that federal intervention is designed to support local authorities rather than replace them outright.
Trump’s approach includes National Guard deployment and coordination with federal law enforcement agencies, a strategy he claims has already reduced crime significantly in the nation’s capital.
Critics have questioned the legality of Trump’s interventions, citing the Home Rule Act and concerns over federal overreach. Supporters argue that federal action is necessary in cities where crime has spiraled out of control and local officials have failed to protect residents.
Trump also made clear that federal intervention will be tactical and targeted, stating he plans to “bring in anybody else we need” to assist Memphis in restoring safety to neighborhoods plagued by violent crime.
With violent crime in Memphis exceeding national averages by more than six times, the city is now in the national spotlight as Trump gears up for what he calls a “law-and-order revival” across America’s most dangerous urban centers. Observers will be watching closely to see if federal involvement can replicate the D.C. results and what impact this will have on the upcoming 2026 elections.
