President Donald Trump’s decision to send the national guard to Memphis has been met with praise from Republicans in Washington, D.C., but closer to home, the response has been more tepid.

Republican Gov. Bill Lee, a longtime ally of President Trump, had not mentioned a national guard deployment when he announced sending additional state troopers to the city this week. At the time, he said that “nothing is off the table.”

Last month, he indicated to reporters that there was no need to send the guard, citing a report that found crime in Memphis had dropped 15% year-over-year.

“We’ve made significant investments toward public safety in Memphis. $150 million in intervention grant funds and vast expansion of troopers there,” Lee said.

On Friday, Lee released a statement, saying that his of

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