President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that the “only reason crime is somewhat down” in Memphis, Tennessee, is due to his decision to send the FBI and other federal agents to tackle the “absolutely terrible crime numbers” over the preceding five months.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump mentioned similar actions taken in Chicago and Los Angeles.
“But the real work by us has barely begun,” Trump wrote. “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. ONLY I CAN SAVE THEM!!!”
This statement follows Trump’s announcement on Friday that he is considering deploying National Guard troops to Memphis to combat crime.
According to White House data, Memphis, which is adjacent to the Mississippi River, had the highest violent crime rate and the third-highest murder rate in the U.S. in 2024, with nearly 150 homicides reported this year.
Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Lee expressed his gratitude for the president’s support in a post on X, stating he is “grateful for the president’s unwavering support and commitment to providing every resource necessary to serve Memphians.”
“I look forward to working with local officials and law enforcement to continue delivering results,” Lee added.
Senator Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., noted that Trump had “answered [her] call” to restore safety in Memphis, supporting the deployment of National Guardsmen following his “tremendous success” in reducing violent crime in Washington, D.C.
While Memphis Mayor Paul Young expressed support for targeted federal initiatives, other local leaders have voiced skepticism. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris described the announcement as “disappointing, anti-democratic and violates American norms and possibly U.S. laws” in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“In the short term, the president’s incursion will likely cause confusion and fear in many of our communities, particularly the most vulnerable ones,” Harris stated. “In the long term, the mark of Tennessee communities being occupied by federal forces will hurt our state’s reputation for generations.”
Fox News Digital’s Cameron Arcand, Charles Creitz, and Peter Burke contributed to this report.
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115199460946450022
