U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum establishing the "Memphis Safe Task Force,” which will deploy National Guard troops alongside federal agencies to tackle rising crime in Memphis, Tennessee.
The order was signed on Monday at the White House during a meeting with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
Trump described the operation as a “replica of our extraordinarily successful efforts” in Washington DC, where federal forces and National Guard troops were previously mobilised to reduce criminal activity.
The Memphis task force will include officials from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
“We’re sending in the big force now,” Trump said.
The president said the initiative was prompted by concerns over Memphis’ crime rate, which remains above the national average and has risen since last year, despite local police reporting decreases across major crime categories in the first eight months of 2025. Gun violence remains a significant challenge in the city, which recorded more than 390 homicides in 2023.
Governor Lee welcomed the federal support, saying the joint effort could bring “meaningful changes” to Memphis. Trump indicated similar deployments could follow in other cities, including Chicago, Baltimore and Portland, though action in some locations may be delayed.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young has expressed opposition to the deployment, saying he did not request the National Guard and questioning whether it is the right approach to reducing crime.
The memorandum builds on previous federal efforts, including National Guard deployments to Los Angeles in June to control protests and to Washington DC last month as part of an anti-crime operation, which reportedly removed around 1,500 offenders from the capital.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on...
At a time when geopolitical tensions continue to ripple across multiple regions, from Ukraine to the Middle East, ...
Iran warned Armerican forces on Monday (4 May) not to enter the Strait of Hormuz, after the U.S. said it...
Austria has expelled three diplomats from the Russian Embassy over concerns that satellite installations on diplomatic buildings could be used for ...
Recent developments across the Middle East show political messaging is moving beyond traditional channels, with public art and AI-generated content...
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on a pedestrianised street in the the eastern German city of Leipzig, authorities said.
At a time when geopolitical tensions continue to ripple across multiple regions, from Ukraine to the Middle East, the South Caucasus once again finds itself at the crossroads of diplomacy and uncertainty.
Austria has expelled three diplomats from the Russian Embassy over concerns that satellite installations on diplomatic buildings could be used for espionage.
A Russian missile strike killed six people in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Monday (4 May), as Kyiv reported fresh attacks on energy infrastructure and a sharp rise in drone strikes on ports.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on a pedestrianised street in the the eastern German city of Leipzig, authorities said.
Iran warned Armerican forces on Monday (4 May) not to enter the Strait of Hormuz, after the U.S. said it had launched a mission to try and reopen the sea passage. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister said there was no military solution to the Middle East conflict.
China has moved to block U.S. sanctions on five of its oil refineries, in a fresh escalation of tensions over trade and energy policy.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will “soon be reviewing” a new 14-point proposal sent by Iran, casting doubt on the chances of a deal after Tehran called for security guarantees, an end to naval blockades and a halt to the war across the region, including in Lebanon.
Ukraine has launched a new wave of drone strikes on Sunday (3 May) across Russia, hitting key infrastructure and causing casualties in several regions, officials on both sides said.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on a pedestrianised street in the the eastern German city of Leipzig, authorities said.
Austria has expelled three diplomats from the Russian Embassy over concerns that satellite installations on diplomatic buildings could be used for espionage.
A Russian missile strike killed six people in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Monday (4 May), as Kyiv reported fresh attacks on energy infrastructure and a sharp rise in drone strikes on ports.
Australia and Japan agreed on Monday to deepen cooperation on energy and critical minerals, as Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met her Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese during a three-day visit.
Australia began public hearings on Monday in an inquiry into the Bondi Beach mass shooting in December, with Jewish Australians giving evidence about their experiences of rising domestic antisemitism.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment