Trump Initiates Crime Crackdown in Memphis, Echoing DC Strategy

Tue Sep 16 2025 07:02:36 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

President Trump announces the formation of a task force to address crime in Memphis, Tennessee, aiming to replicate strategies used in Washington DC. Local officials express concerns about federal intervention amidst declining crime rates.

In an effort to combat escalating crime in Memphis, President Trump has unveiled a federal task force, citing alarming rates of violent crime in the city. This move follows a similar crackdown in Washington DC, though it faces opposition from local leadership who argue that crime is decreasing without federal influence. Trump is set to deploy various federal agencies, including the National Guard, to assist in the initiative.

US President Donald Trump, joined by Tennessee's Republican Governor Bill Lee, on Monday established a task force to take on crime in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Democratic-led city is the second to face a Trump administration crackdown on crime, following Washington DC.

Trump has vowed to fix the city after shelving plans for a similar operation in Chicago, reportedly due to opposition from local and state officials.

Memphis' mayor, Paul Young, also has voiced opposition to the plan, arguing that crime already is falling without federal intervention.

The president mentioned that Memphis is overrun with carjackings, robberies, and shootings, and stated, We're not going to allow this kind of savagery to destroy our society anymore. He emphasized that the task force would be a replica of previous efforts in DC, activating federal agencies like the National Guard, FBI, ICE, and ATF.

Governor Lee praised the efforts for sustained crime lowering in Tennessee, reinforcing a collaborative approach with the federal government.

However, local officials, including Mayor Young, are concerned about the implications of deploying federal forces in their communities without input in decision-making strategies.

FBI statistics from 2024 indicate that Memphis experiences one of the highest rates of violent crime in the US, with 2,501 incidents per 100,000 residents.

This announcement follows Trump's increased focus on responding to crime in major cities, having already taken similar actions in Washington DC.

Despite this initiative, polling suggests significant opposition among locals to the deployment of National Guard troops, amidst concerns over the legality of such federal actions within city limits.