Nationwide — Memphis Mayor Paul Young said he was “not happy” to learn from a TV interview that President Donald Trump planned to send the National Guard to his city. He stresses that he never requested troops and does not believe the move will reduce crime.
Speaking on CNN, the mayor explained that he first heard about the idea of possible support from federal agencies such as the FBI and DEA earlier in the week from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s office. Discussions followed, but he said no final details reached him until Trump’s televised announcement.
Trump described Memphis as “deeply troubled” and vowed to “fix that just like we did Washington,” where troops were recently deployed. Young countered that crime in Memphis is already declining. Police data show overall crime at a 25-year low and murders at their lowest level in six years.
Despite recent progress, the city continues to struggle with gun violence. In 2023, Memphis recorded 390 homicides, the highest in its history. The city is also still dealing with the aftermath of Tyre Nichols’ death in 2023, which led to federal investigations into the police department.
The mayor said details about the Guard’s role remain unclear. He suggested troops could assist with large events, traffic management, camera monitoring, or backup for law enforcement rather than policing neighborhoods directly. He stressed that he wants to shape how they operate in the city.
Young also noted community concerns, recalling how the National Guard was deployed in Memphis in 1968 after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. “We don’t want to invoke those same images here,” he said.
National Guard units have long been used in Tennessee and across the U.S. for disaster response, protests, and federal missions. Governor Lee has said details are still being worked out and discussions with Trump will continue. For now, the city is waiting for clarity on when troops will arrive and what their duties will be.