Walkin’ in Memphis…and Not Getting Shot

Back in mid-September, I wrote a post about how Trump’s threats to send the National Guard into Memphis weren’t being met with the amount of angst and derision so common in other blue cities on his ‘clean-up’ list.

Memphis mayor Paul Young wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea, to be sure, but he wasn’t going to go down kicking and screaming like an out-of-control toddler à la Brandon Johnson, either.

He chose very measured tones when he said, 

…’Defies’ is a strong word for ‘we’ll work with what we’re handed and make the best of the opportunity.’

…Memphis Mayor Paul Youngsaid Friday, per The Commercial Appeal: “I do not support the National Guard. However, they are [the governor’s to deploy]—it’s not the mayor’s call. The mayor doesn’t have…an authority to stop them. My goal is to make sure that as they come that I have an opportunity to work with them, to strategize on how they engage in this community.”

The same day I posted, I had to update it almost immediately, as Trump signed the Presidential Memorandum authorizing the deployment that very afternoon. 

NOW – Trump signs Presidential Memorandum deploying National Guard, ICE, and other agencies to Memphis, Tennessee, to combat crime. pic.twitter.com/QHSjsOsHp0

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) September 15, 2025

Going to Memphis was a done deal. Just a question of how soon.

By the first of October, NatlGrd troops were already staging in the city. Portland was sweating bullets about the possibility of being next, as networks like CNN tried to feed the anti-Guard frenzy.

Sometimes their reporting didn’t go as planned.

🚨 JUST IN: A patriot in Memphis just PHOTOBOMBED CNN with a sign saying “Democrats Destroyed Memphis,” as the National Guard begins arriving

The back of the sign says “Thank you, President Trump.”

This man just singlehandedly DESTROYED the BS narrative CNN was pushing

The… pic.twitter.com/vHpct7fIKb

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 1, 2025

And what happened in Washington, D.C. must have had a spillover effect in Memphis, because, as the troops were offloading and getting bivouacs set up, things in the city mysteriously started settling down before the first soldier ever set out on a foot patrol.

I listened to this lovely lady last night, who said for the first time in five years, her children were playing in the backyard without a care. And that she ‘hadn’t heard a gunshot in two weeks.’

A Memphis TN resident shares what she is observing after the National Guard were sent in and thanks President Trump @POTUS

“…Im not into politics… I ain’t into all of that…we’re human… But I will say thank you to Trump for bringing these National Guards and doing what they… pic.twitter.com/VjVgDu4g9i

— ❣️Anne❣️ (@USA_Anne711) October 11, 2025

…But I will say ‘thank you’ to Trump, for bringing these National Guards and doing what they doing down here. 

For the first time in 5 years.. my kids have been able to play in the backyard and be able to do it comfortably. I haven’t heard a gunshot in 2 weeks. I haven’t seen any strange people walk up and down the street… I haven’t seen an infinity flag pass me in weeks. I’m sitting in my front porch right now and I’m seeing kids outside playing. People outside walking with their kids. Stuff I haven’t seen before in my neighborhood. All because we feel safe in our environment…I’m happy… to have a moment of peace. Just thank you Jesus. “

That was before a single patrol had set foot on a street.

Even as local media tried to hype ‘the tension,’ they simultaneously had a hard time finding a plurality of residents against the Guard to help make their case.

After weeks of growing tension and demands for action, the National Guard is officially on the ground in Memphis. 

Roughly 145 to 150 troops have been deployed to Bluff City to stabilize and support local law enforcement as part of a coordinated effort to curb crime and restore public confidence.

…Residents in Harbor Town were quick to notice the heightened security. Some expressed comfort seeing Guard members on the streets, while others questioned why they were stationed in one of Memphis’ quieter neighborhoods.

State Rep. Antonio Parkinson confirmed that about 150 Guard members will be deployed to Memphis, working in three eight-hour shifts with no more than 50 on duty at a time.

…Despite differing opinions, many residents agree that the Guard’s presence signals a serious push to crack down on crime.

“If criminals feel like they have the right to commit crimes and they’re just going to get slapped on the wrist,” Brock said. “Maybe this will deter them from wanting to commit crimes in the future.”

The Guard in Memphis won’t have arresting authority – they’ll be out with sheriffs or other law enforcement who do.

NBC is doing its part to fuel the hysteria.

ELEVENTY!!!

But they also seemed to have had a hard time coming up with residents completely panicked by the thought of whatever sort of adjective they used for authoritarian troops on the ground. The ‘Trump’s fascist stormtroopers’ schtick ain’t flyin’.

Memphis residents now worried about crime and the ‘unleashed’ federal agents sent to address it

The National Guard began patrolling the streets of Memphis on Friday, after White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller last week encouraged law enforcement to police aggressively.

“You are unleashed,” he said at a press conference with law enforcement agents to announce this Memphis task force. Miller added, “The gangbangers that you deal with, they think that they’re ruthless. They have no idea how ruthless we are.”

That has residents worried they will be harassed in their own communities. Eleven Memphians in the majority-Black city told NBC News they are exchanging one fear — the crime in their city — for another, excessive policing.

Wilhelmina Washington said she is encouraged that crime is being addressed. “I need to feel safer. I don’t go out at night. Period. Too much has happened. So, if this can change that, then OK.”

But others said they feel as if they are pawns in a political game they cannot win.

I bet they didn’t talk to this fellow. He seems downright jazzed.

ALL I WANT TO SAY IS, TRUMP, YOU’RE DOING YOU BIG THANG – WE GOT THE KIDS BACK OUTSIDE

Wait a minute… the media told us blacks didn’t support Trump sending the National Guard to Memphis

All I wanna say is Trumps doing a good thing, we got the kids back outside on their bikes, I can walk to the store, I ain’t walked to the store in 20 yrs

Boy, were they wrong pic.twitter.com/QDqXc6RJmK

— @Chicago1Ray 🇺🇸 (@Chicago1Ray) October 13, 2025

The National Guard has been in the city for less than two weeks, walking foot patrols for two days… 

BOOTS ON THE GROUND: National Guard troops have begun patrolling Memphis, Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/vuazQ0RPBL

— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 10, 2025

…and there is nothing but astonishment across the length and breadth at the overnight change.

Black people are excited that Trump sent the National Guard into Memphis saying they see crime is all but gone pic.twitter.com/0ksb1zvAyC

— Anton Daniels (@1antondaniels) October 12, 2025

The language is raw, but the message is not. This man was wholeheartedly against the Guard deployment, and now?

I CAN’T WHOLEHEARTEDLY SAY THEY’RE DOING A BAD THING – I CAN’T

This man was dead set against President Trump sending the National Guard and allowing the police and military to flood Memphis, but seeing that crime is down and it’s been peaceful after one week by getting convicted murderers and armed felons off the streets. He now admits that… pic.twitter.com/xSVJANlzVu

— ꪻꫝể ꪻꫝể (@TheThe1776) October 12, 2025

He now admits that it’s good for his city.

The videos coming out of Memphis are nothing but black residents thanking Trump or marveling at the state of the city in such a short time.

Everyone’s talking about 600+ criminals off the streets and tons of weapons already.

What he’s referring to there (and the others who have mentioned the numbers) is something called the ‘Memphis Safe Task Force’ that the Department of Justice set up and sent in, which started doing raids two weeks ago. They have made a huge dent in the criminal population already.

Maybe they’re another reason why it got so quiet so fast.

It’s been nearly two weeks since the Memphis Safe Task Force arrived, and the numbers keep growing.  

Officials with the Department of Justice say more than 600 arrests have been made by the Task Force. 

…According to a spokesperson with the Department of Justice, 627 arrests have been made and 155 firearms have been seized since their inception on Sept. 29.

Residents we spoke to say they expect that number to increase as officials continue their fight to decrease crime. 

“The only way it could be fixed is if they get everybody off the streets, but they’ve got to catch everybody first,” said Elijah Lee, who lives in the area.

The DOJ breaks down the arrests as follows:
– 224 warrants
– 131 ICE administrative arrests
– 79 were for firearms
– 60 for narcotics
– 28 were sex offenses
– 4 were homicides
– 2 were for parole and probation violations
– 99 are listed as other.

Along with the arrests, more than 3,000 traffic citations have been issued.

BOOMITY

Not only do the residents interviewed for this article not resent the task force, but they also want the results to last.

So perhaps this virtue signaling progressive Tennessee state legislator…

Far-left Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson claims that the National Guard deployment to Memphis is a “military occupation.”

In reality, since the beginning of the Memphis Safe Task Force, more than 500 criminals have been arrested, including gang members and sex offenders. pic.twitter.com/WYtAbx4QyJ

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 11, 2025

…should talk to this Memphis resident who understands what life is like when one has to duck under a bed to sleep at night or worry about getting carjacked.

She said, ‘Bring ’em on.‘

Memphis resident: “It’s just so dangerous that you can’t get out of your car. You can’t go to the grocery store… So, yeah, I want to see the crime stop — and if the National Guard is going to stop the crime, bring them on!” pic.twitter.com/DVP2HEPjeh

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 15, 2025

And Trump did.

That’s listening to your constituents.

Making their neighborhoods safe to walk in again.

Editor’s Note: The days of lawlessness in Washington, D.C., and Memphis, TN, are over. The insanity underway in other progressive, Democrat run enclaves is next.

Thanks to President Trump, our nation’s blue cities will be SAFE once again.

Please, help Ed, David, John, and me continue to report on President Trump’s efforts to restore law and order to our great nation. We would love to have you join us as a HotAir’s VIP member and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.

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