Move is latest push by administration to expand military-led response to urban crime in Democratic-run cities
Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order that would send national guard troops into Memphis, in a “replica” of the administration’s expanding military-led response to urban crime in Democratic-run cities.
The move was welcome by Tennessee’s Republican governor, Bill Lee, who stood behind Trump in the Oval Office as he signed a presidential memo establishing a “Memphis Safe Task Force”.
“We’re going to fix that just like we did Washington,” Trump said.
Announcing the taskforce in an Oval Office meeting, Trump said the troops would work alongside federal authorities from various agencies, including the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), the US Marshals Service and the Department of Justice.
