NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he plans to deploy the National Guard to tackle crime issues in Memphis, with backing from both the city’s mayor and Tennessee’s governor. This move is the latest instance of Trump’s reliance on military presence in U.S. cities, which has raised questions about the extent of presidential power and sparked criticism from local officials.

During an interview on Fox News, Trump said that both the mayor and the governor are supportive of the upcoming deployment. He described Memphis as “deeply troubled” and expressed intentions to resolve the issues in a manner similar to his approach in Washington, D.C., where he dispatched the National Guard and increased federal law enforcement presence.

Memphis, predominantly a Black city, is led by a Democratic mayor who had not immediately commented on the matter. Republican Governor Bill Lee confirmed on Friday that discussions were underway with the Trump administration regarding the National Guard’s deployment to Memphis for a new crime-fighting initiative.

The governor stated that he intended to discuss the specifics of the mission with the president later that day and collaborate with Trump’s team to outline the best roles for the Tennessee National Guard, FBI, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Memphis Police Department, and other law enforcement bodies.

Trump mentioned on Friday that his decision to send troops to Memphis was influenced by Union Pacific’s CEO Jim Vena. Vena, who frequently visited the city during his tenure on FedEx’s board, had encouraged the president earlier in the week to take action against the city’s crime.

Following his previous deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., Trump has considered sending troops to other prominent Democratic cities like Chicago and Baltimore, despite data indicating a general decline in violent crime in those cities and across the nation in recent years.

Trump has also suggested he could send troops to New Orleans, another Democratic-run city in a Republican-leaning state.

Crime is down, but troops may be coming

The president’s announcement came just days after Memphis police reported decreases across all major crime categories in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period in previous years. Overall crime hit a 25-year-low, while murder hit a six-year low, police said.

Asked Friday if city and state officials had requested a National Guard deployment — or had formally signed off on it — the White House didn’t answer. It also didn’t offer a possible timeline or say whether federal law enforcement would be surged in connection with a guard deployment to Memphis, as happened when troops were deployed to Washington.

Trump said Friday that he “would have preferred going to Chicago,” where local politicians have fiercely resisted his plans, but suggested the city was too “hostile” with “professional agitators.”

Officials in Tennessee appear divided

Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor, who backs the Memphis troop deployment, said Friday the National Guard could provide “administrative and logistical support” to law enforcement and allow local officers to focus on policework. Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn also voiced her approval.

The Democratic mayor of Shelby County, which includes the city of Memphis, criticized Trump’s proposal. “Mr. President, no one here is ‘happy,’” said Mayor Lee Harris. “Not happy at all with occupation, armored vehicles, semi-automatic weapons, and military personnel in fatigues.”

Tennessee’s governor had said Wednesday that an ongoing FBI operation alongside state and local law enforcement already made “hundreds of arrests targeting the most violent offenders.” He also said there are record levels of Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers in Shelby County, including a newly announced additional 50 troopers.

“We are actively discussing the next phase of our strategy to accelerate the positive momentum that’s already underway, and nothing is off the table,” Lee said in the statement.

On Thursday, Memphis Mayor Paul Young said he learned earlier this week that the governor and Trump were considering the deployment in Memphis.

“I am committed to working to ensure any efforts strengthen our community and build on our progress,” Young’s statement said. What the city needs most, he said, is money for intervention and crime prevention, as well as more officers on patrol and support for bolstering the police department’s investigations.

Some Republicans, including Taylor, the state senator, have asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to audit the Memphis Police Department’s crime reporting.

Trump’s broader National Guard strategy

Trump first deployed troops to Los Angeles in early June over Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s objections by putting the California National Guard under federal jurisdiction, known as Title 10, to protect federal property from protests over immigration raids. The guard later helped protect officers during immigration arrests.

Alongside 4,000 guard members, 700 active duty Marines were also sent, and California sued over the intervention.

In Washington, D.C., where the president directly commands the National Guard, Trump has used troops for everything from armed patrols to trash cleanup without any legal issues.

Chicago is on edge

Trump’s comments underscored his shift away from threats to send troops into Chicago. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats, vowed legal action to block any such move.

Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential contender, has said a federal intervention is not justified or wanted in Chicago. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi this week accused state leaders of being uncooperative.

“We want Chicago to ask us for the help and they’re not going to do that,” she told reporters after an unrelated event near Chicago where federal agents seized vaping products.

Even without National Guard troops, residents in Chicago are expecting more federal immigration enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security launched a new operation this week, with federal officials confirming 13 people with prior criminal arrests had been detained. However, it’s still unclear what role that operation would play more broadly.