U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard to Memphis to combat crime, advocating instead for increased federal funding.
On Friday, President Donald Trump announced during an appearance on Fox News that the National Guard will be deployed to Memphis, making it the next U.S. city targeted in an effort to address record-high crime rates.
Trump’s announcement comes as data published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shows Memphis to be the most dangerous city in the U.S., with a violent crime rate of 2,501 incidents per 100,000 residents.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said the deployment of National Guard troops in Memphis came after “months” of his office communicating with the Trump Administration to “develop a multi-phased, strategic plan to combat crime in Memphis.”
Cohen decried Trump’s remarks on “Fox and Friends” when he said Memphis is “deeply troubled,” arguing instead that Memphis’ “crime problem” is the “result of centuries of racial discrimination, including slavery that separated families without educational opportunities.”
“What Memphis needs is consistent federal investment in police protection with additional, permanent patrols and community policing to establish relationships,” Cohen said.
Cohen went on to speculate the National Guard’s presence in Memphis will be “a facade for increased ICE enforcement in Memphis,” adding, “That’s what I think this is about, and that would harm our local economy, particularly the tourist and construction industries.”
The Democrat also claimed that, while staying in Washington, D.C., he has not perceived “any change in the level of safety” since the National Guard’s deployment in the nation’s capital, despite D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser admitting that the increased presence of federal agents had a “significant” impact on crime in the city.
Cohen appeared at a press conference alongside Memphis Mayor Paul Young, members of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, and others against the National Guard’s deployment in Memphis.
While Mayor Young said he doesn’t believe the National Guard “is the way to drive down crime,” he acknowledged recent incidents of violent crime and how crime in Memphis “is still too high” during the press conference.
Later, during an appearance on MSNBC, the mayor admitted he has “a list of things” he believes the deployment of guardsmen can help with, including “backing up” efforts of the Memphis Police Department.
Meanwhile, State Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) has called for a “coordinated” resistance and for Democrats to “fight back” amid National Guard troops being deployed to Memphis.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Image “Rep Steve Cohen” by Rep. Steve Cohen.
As expected, the donks would rather have the criminals running the city.
Memphis does not need more federal money. They need political leadership that is committed to stopping crime dead cold right now! This is a hellhole run by people who have no intention of rolling back crime. Giving them money when they don’t have the will is asinine. Why would any sane person do that? Just like a pompous backassward democrat to suggest such stupidity.
It’s not up to the feds to pay for the dumpster fire of a city you’ve created. And there isn’t a single dem who can understand that money solves nothing.