When US President Donald Trump signed an executive order, we knew that there would be ripples. Even still, he is deploying National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, to address the city’s soaring crime rates. Home of Sun Studio and associated with Elvis and Johnny Cash, Memphis is the birthplace of rock and roll, soul and the blues. At the same time, the city is facing a violent crime epidemic.
As a result, Memphis has consistently been the most violent city in the US for cities over 100,000. That disturbing figure is from last year’s FBI uniform crime reporting data for 2024. The figures revealed a startling contrast: while overall crime in the city is at a 25-year low—including significant reductions in robbery, burglary, and larceny—violent crime remains a pressing issue. So far this year, Memphis has had 146 homicides and 4,308 aggravated assaults just in 2025.
Even with those statistics, Mayor Paul Young told Senate hearing that he is not convinced sending in the National Guard will be effective. “I want to be clear: I did not ask for the National Guard and I don’t think it is the way to drive down crime,” he stated. His remarks echo some worries that military presence would not do anything to address root causes of violence plaguing the city.
Trump’s plan attempts to mutually establish a “Memphis State Task Force.” This collaborative task force should involve local police as well as local offices of federal agencies such as the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and US Marshals Service. This task force is reminiscent of a previous push in Washington, D.C. Trump went on to tout that campaign as a success in restoring law and order.
Even Tennessee Governor Bill Lee supported the controversial decision to send the troops. He had accompanied Trump to the White House on the day of that announcement. “I have been in office for seven years. I’m tired of crime holding the great city of Memphis back,” Lee stated, emphasizing the need for urgent action against crime.
As of 2024, Memphis now has the highest per capita violent crime rate in the nation—almost seven times the national average. This year, and in every recent month, has set a record low for crime. Local police officials cautioned that these statistics gloss over the realities of the violent crime package Memphis. “In a refreshing display of optimism, they pointed out that murder rates have recently fallen to a six-year low. Meanwhile, aggravated assault is at a five-year low, and sexual assault is at a twenty-year low.
Even with all of these Chicago victories, the big picture violent crime conflicting numbers are still concerning. The city’s ongoing battle with crime offers a perilous golden opportunity that city leaders and law enforcement must tread lightly to avoid. The deployment of National Guard troops will add a military component to local law enforcement efforts but raises questions about its potential impact on community relations and long-term solutions.
Pamela Bondi, speaking at the announcement event, highlighted the urgency of the situation: “In recent weeks, @POTUS has restored law & order to DC. Today, I was proud to stand with him as he signed an order to do the same for another American city: Memphis.”
