President Donald Trump announced he will send the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, to deal with what he called an urgent crime problem. He described Memphis as “deeply troubled” and said he plans to intervene “just like we did Washington.”

He claimed both the Democratic mayor of Memphis, Paul Young, and Republican Governor of Tennessee, Bill Lee, support the deployment. Trump also floated the possibility that military forces might be used if needed.

Trump has made similar moves recently. He deployed federal agents and National Guard personnel in Washington, D.C., and has threatened to do the same in other cities like New Orleans and Chicago.

Memphis has one of the highest violent crime rates among U.S. cities of its size. Around 24% of its residents live in poverty, which is more than double the national average.

What to Watch Next

• Whether the city and state will officially confirm support or push back.
• How the deployment will be carried out what rules will govern the National Guard’s role, what oversight there will be.
• How local residents, civil rights groups, and political opponents respond.
• Whether this becomes a model for similar interventions in other cities.