US President Donald Trump has ordered National Guard troops to be deployed to Memphis as part of his ongoing crackdown on crime. The move, announced on Monday, is part of a wider federal effort that critics have described as authoritarian.

Deployment Plan Mirrors Washington Operation

Speaking at a signing ceremony in the Oval Office, Trump said the operation in Memphis would be a “replica” of the task force sent to Washington in August.

“The effort will include the National Guard as well as the FBI and other federal agencies,” Trump told reporters. He emphasized the urgency of the move, adding, “It’s very important because of the crime that’s going on.”

The president hinted that Chicago would likely be the next city to see similar action. “We’re gonna be doing Chicago probably next,” he said.

Federal Government Pushes Crime Crackdown

Trump claimed that similar troop deployments and deportation raids in Washington and Los Angeles had protected those cities from what he described as “immigrant crime,” a central theme of his campaign promises.

At the same event, US Attorney General Pam Bondi voiced support for the strategy. She said federal agencies would follow the “highly successful” model used in Washington to “Make Memphis Safe Again.”

Focus on Democratic-Run Cities

So far, Trump’s crackdown has primarily focused on cities run by Democrats. Memphis, where the latest deployment is taking place, is a majority-Black city with a Democratic mayor. However, Tennessee’s state governor is a Republican, creating a mix of political dynamics around the move.

Last week, the Trump administration launched a separate immigration enforcement operation in Chicago. The operation targeted what the administration described as the “worst of the worst criminals.”

Trump and Illinois Governor Clash

Trump has frequently threatened to send the National Guard into Chicago, sparking tensions with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat. The two leaders have publicly clashed over the issue, often exchanging sharp remarks through social media posts.

This latest decision signals that the president is determined to expand federal intervention in cities facing rising crime, even as his approach continues to face criticism from opponents who warn of federal overreach.