In a light-hearted moment during a speech in Memphis, Tennessee, President Donald Trump expressed his admiration for Elvis Presley, jokingly admitting that he had considered fabricating a story about meeting the legendary musician. Speaking to a group of law enforcement officers and National Guard troops, Trump praised the efforts of the Memphis Safe Task Force in reducing crime in the area. He mentioned his plans to visit Graceland, the iconic estate of the late rock and roll legend, located not far from downtown Memphis. “I’m going to see Graceland after this,” Trump remarked. “I love Elvis. I never met Elvis. Everyone said, ‘Did you?'”

The President continued with a playful note, “I met [Frank] Sinatra. I knew all of them. I never met Elvis. Sometimes I feel I should tell little fibs that I knew him.” Trump’s rallies have often featured Presley’s music, showcasing his genuine admiration for the rock star who was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. Trump has also shared anecdotes about how people have compared his appearance to that of Elvis, once saying, “Other than the blonde hair, when I was growing up, they said I looked like Elvis… great compliment,” during a 2018 event in Tupelo.

In 2018, after posthumously awarding Elvis the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Trump shared that he had attended one of the star’s concerts. Later, in 2024, Trump posted a split-image of himself and Presley, humorously engaging with the long-standing comparison between them. Accompanying the image, he wrote, “For so many years people have been saying that Elvis and I look alike. Now this pic has been going all over the place. What do you think?”

Trump campaign events have typically featured some of Presley’s most iconic songs, including ‘Suspicious Minds,’ ‘If I Can Dream,’ and ‘An American Trilogy.’ Graceland, the nearly 18,000-square-foot Colonial Revival mansion Presley purchased in March 1957 for just over $100,000, now serves as a tourist hotspot that receives around 600,000 annual visitors.

The 13-acre property is now estimated to be worth between $400 to $500 million due to its cultural significance and tourist revenue. The Memphis Safe Task Force event featured several top Trump administration officials including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, FBI Director Kash Patel, advisor Stephen Miller, Immigration and Customs Enforcement boss Todd Lyons, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and local task force leadership.

The crowd consisted of scores of National Guard troops that have been deployed to the city to combat crime since Trump directed them to the city in September 2025. According to local law enforcement data, crime has plummeted 43 percent compared to last year. The task force’s leadership said at the event that it has made 7,000 arrests and seized nearly 1,100 firearms since the task force began.