WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy federal forces to Memphis, Tennessee, and subsequently to Chicago, Illinois, mirroring actions taken during his governance in response to civil unrest. The move comes as both cities grapple with rising crime rates.
Trump’s previous deployments of federal law enforcement and the National Guard sparked legal battles and accusations of overreach. While possessing authority over federal law enforcement and the National Guard in the District of Columbia due to the city’s unique federal status, his power does not extend directly to states without their consent.
The proclamation follows earlier deployments to cities including Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., in June and last month, respectively. The Trump administration had also threatened similar actions in Baltimore and Portland. In June, Trump sent 2,000 California National Guard members to Los Angeles against the wishes of Governor Gavin newsom, prompting a legal challenge. A federal judge ultimately ruled the deployment illegal, a decision the administration said it would appeal.
Despite a decrease in crime in Washington, D.C.,during a period of federal emergency measures,Trump repeatedly claimed “there is no crime” in the city-a statement disputed by critics. The deployments have been characterized by some as a “dangerous concentration of power.”
