Trump Creates Memphis Safe Task Force, Authorizes National Guard

President Donald Trump on Monday signed a presidential memorandum creating a "Memphis Safe Task Force" and authorized the use of the National Guard and a broad array of federal law enforcement to address crime in Memphis, Tennessee, the second largest city in the state. The announcement, made in the Oval Office with Republican Gov. Bill Lee at his side, said agents from the FBI, ATF, DEA, ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals and federal prosecutors would join state and local officers in a coordinated operation centered on West Tennessee.

Trump described the initiative as a replica of his recent efforts in Washington, D.C., and said the task force would deploy the full powers of federal law enforcement to "get dangerous career criminals off of our streets." Gov. Lee, who stood with the president, said he was "tired of crime holding the great city of Memphis back" and welcomed the federal assistance. The White House released statements asserting Memphis had some of the highest crime rates in 2024 and has worsened since, though the memorandum gave few operational details or a timeline.

Local officials offered mixed responses. Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat,...