President Donald Trump announced he will send the National Guard to Memphis to assist in reducing crime. He made the statement during a Fox News interview on Friday morning.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said he will meet with Trump later on Friday to finalize the plan. The details about how troops will arrive in the city and when they will be deployed have not been made public yet.
Trump described Memphis as troubled and he compared the situation there to Washington, saying the same tactic used there would be applied. He also claimed that the city’s mayor, Paul Young, and the governor are supportive of the move.
Mayor Young disputed Trump’s claim that he was happy with the decision. Young said he did not ask for the National Guard to be sent and he does not believe sending troops will be the best way to reduce crime. He said the mayor does not have authority to block the deployment.